According to anonymous sources, top executives at New Jersey Education Association were the first to hear that Gov. Phil Murphy wants to replace three State Board of Education members who sometimes have clashed with his agenda. The Department of Education, the press, and the Board members themselves heard after NJEA had been informed.

In fact, the press release from the Governor’s Office quotes Senate Education Committee Chair Vin Gopal, the three prospective members, and one other politician: NJEA President Sean Spiller

‘We are pleased that Governor Murphy has nominated three highly qualified public education advocates to serve on the NJSBOE,’ said NJEA President Sean M. Spiller. ‘They bring a wealth and diversity of experience that will benefit New Jersey’s students and their families. We look forward to working with each of them, and the rest of the NJSBOE, to address the challenges facing our public schools and to ensure that they remain the very best in the nation.’

NJER reported last Thursday that State Board Vice President Andrew Mulvihill, Mary Elizabeth Gazi, and Mary Beth Berry had received notice that Murphy  plans to replace them with Mary Bennett, Kwanghee Jung, and Claudine Keenan. Currently all 13 members of the State Board have expired terms; Murphy chose to replace the three members who didn’t vote for the DOE-recommended updates to the Health and Physical Education standards that have caused such an uproar.

Here is NJEA’s press release:

“We commend Gov. Murphy’s nomination of three highly qualified public education advocates, Mary Bennett, Kwanghee Jung and Claudine Keenan, to the New Jersey State Board of Education.

“Each of them will bring deep professional experience and policy expertise to the position. They share a commitment to public education and to advancing the best interests of New Jersey’s students and their families. They will bring new perspectives and fresh ideas to a board that has not had any new members in nearly five years. And they bring a much-needed diversity of experience and background to a board charged with helping to ensure that New Jersey’s diverse student population receives the thorough and efficient public education guaranteed to every New Jersey child in our constitution.

“We urge the New Jersey Senate to confirm these nominations quickly so that these nominees can begin their important work on behalf of New Jersey students and families. We look forward to working with each of them and the rest of the NJSBOE to address the challenges facing our public schools and to ensure that they remain the very best in the nation.”

NJEA’s “Spider Web of Political Power”: A New Report Examines NJEA’s Ring Through Murphy’s Nose