April 12^th Forum Lets Newark Residents Learn about the Candidates and Key Election Issues, Including the Proposed $1.3 Billion Newark School Budget 

Newark Trust for Education (NTE) and Project Ready, two nonprofits committed to advancing education and driving voter registration, will host the Newark Board of Education (NBOE) Candidates’ Forum on Wednesday, April 12^th at 6pm with media partners Chalkbeat Newark and TAPinto Newark. The event will be live-streamed at the following on YouTube and Facebook.

The candidates’ forum will provide community members the opportunity to learn about the candidates on the ballot for the April 25th election. This year, eight candidates will be competing for three school board seats on the nine-member board.                      

NTE’s and Project Ready’s goal for the forum is to bring different perspectives together and engage the community on how to best serve the district’s students. Candidates will share their ideas, values, and visions for Newark and its educational system – and answer questions submitted by community members, including students. They will also be asked to address questions about the $1.3 billion proposed budget for next year’s school budget, which is largely controlled by the Board of Education.

“Post-pandemic in the state’s largest school system, only 27 percent of Newark students are proficient in English while families continue to face barriers to educational attainment and civic participation,” said Project Ready CEO Shennell McCloud. “We need to do better for our students which is why Project Ready and Newark Trust are partnering to seize the moment and create this space to educate our community.”

This year’s candidates are:

• Hasani K. Council
• Josephine C. Garcia
• LaToya Jackson
• Allison K. James-Frison
• Tawana J. Johnson-Emory
• Ade’Kamil Kelly
• Thomas Luna
• James Wright, Jr.

“Newark’s families, educators, and community members are becoming more aware of the impact of Covid on students’ learning. We need to commit to working with parents to develop awareness, practices, and advocacy for addressing literacy development for kids across the city – and to forming strong partnerships between parents, community organizations, and the school board.  It is essential for Newark voters to be aware of who the candidates are and what their position is on issues such as literacy proficiency that affect students, educators, and administrators today and into the future,” said Ronald Chaluisan, executive director of Newark Trust for Education. “We encourage all Newark residents to watch online so they can make an informed decision on Election Day.”

Learn more about Candidates’ Forum and the School Board Election Campaign Central.

About Newark Trust for Education

Newark Trust for Education is an independent nonprofit dedicated to coordinating and focusing ideas, people, and resources on the efficient and effective delivery of a quality public education to all children in Newark; and to creating broad and shared accountability for student success across multiple stakeholders. For more information, visit www.newarktrust.org.

About Project Ready

Project Ready is a nonprofit that works to close the opportunity gaps and improve life outcomes by amplifying issues at the intersection of social justice, public health, educational inequities, and civic engagement. The organization grows the base of voters and substantially increases voter turnout while also reshaping policies that disenfranchise vulnerable communities. For more information, visit www.projectreadynj.org/