Here's an example of the impact a state takeover of the school systm
can have to break the logjam and improve the results.
By ANDY NEWMAN
Published: August 8, 1996
Seven years into a state takeover of the Jersey City school system,
students' scores on standardized tests are showing marked
improvement, the State Education Department said yesterday. This past
school year, 73 percent of the city's eleventh graders passed tests
required for graduation, up from 66 percent in 1994-95. Eighth
graders showed similar gains. Peter Peretzman, a spokesman for the
department, said that once 85 percent of the city's students have
passed standardized tests, the state would consider relinquishing
control of the district.
--- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "asburycouple" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
wrote:
>
> It appears that there has been much greater damage to any rapport
on
> the boe than just the addition of this one person. I sense a
> bitterness in these postings among the voting board members that
> might make it almost impossible for the boe to function properly
> regardness of Mr. Hopson involvement.
>
>
>
> --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "Fred" <asburydogma@> wrote:
> >
> > --- In AsburyPark@yahoogroups.com, "asburycouple" <asburycouple@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > People, his term is up in April. VOTE HIM OUT! PERIOD.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Below is all I could find on Google related to Mr. Hopson.
> Nothing
> > at
> > > all is either racist or homophobic. That doesn't mean there
isn't
> > > anything to the accusations but given the serious nature of the
> > claims I
> > > certainly hope someone actually provides some evidence behind
> them,
> > or
> > > steps up and apologizes if they can't.
> > >
> > > However the two excerpts below do illustrate the continued
> division
> > and
> > > disagreement that will continue to plague the school board going
> > > forward. Whether he was right or wrong is not what worries
me.
> > How the
> > > current board and he will be able to coexist and get things
done
> is
> > > beyond me given the history below. I see a future with more
> > arguing by
> > > adults resulting in more failure for kids.
> > >
> > > I think that the only thing that's been proven over the past
> several
> > > years is that Asbury Park simply will not be able to fix our own
> > > schools. Too many egos, too much croneyism, far too many
agendas
> > other
> > > than the kids. As a kid when things went this horribly wrong
> we'd
> > call
> > > a do-over. We need the state to come in here and give us do-
> over.
> > Run
> > > the system without all of the history. See what works. Be
open
> to
> > > trying things without the baggage of worrying about who's
> friend's
> > job
> > > might be impacted. And reward performance rather than politics.
> > >
> > > Here are the quotes...
> > >
> > > From August, when the status of Dr. Lewis and the football
coach
> > were in
> > > question:
> > >
> > > Since that time, several parents have come forward to protest
the
> > move
> > > and voice support for the coach.
> > >
> > > A small group of parents and football players took a bus trip
to
> > Trenton
> > > last Friday and met with Deputy Commissioner of Education Isaac
> > Bryant.
> > >
> > > Greg Hopson, one of the parents who organized the trip, said
the
> > group
> > > asked Bryant to suspend the Asbury Park school board for
> repeatedly
> > > denying candidates for employment submitted by Superintendent
of
> > Schools
> > > Antonio Lewis.
> > >
> > > D'Alessandro contested that allegation.
> > >
> > > "Ninety-five percent of everything Lewis asks for are routinely
> > > agreed to," he said. "We have had a couple of high profile
> > > candidates who have not been hired."
> > >
> > > Regarding the football coach:
> > >
> > > Greg Hopson, Asbury Park, has two sons who played for Coach
> Stinson.
> > > Gregory Junior will be going to West Virginia, Wesleyan or
> Delaware
> > > State University in the fall with an academic and athletic
> > scholarship.
> > > He has offers to play football for both teams.
> > >
> > > His younger brother Frederick is going into his junior year.
> > >
> > > Hopson is very upset about the delay in hiring a football coach
> and
> > will
> > > be attending tonight's meeting.
> > >
> > > Young Gregory said Coach Stinson has been a role model and a
> mentor.
> > >
> > > "He helped me on and off the field, academically and
athletically.
> > > Since he joined the program it has been going up and up. More
> kids
> > are
> > > going to college," said Gregory.
> > >
> > > He added that Stinson helped him throughout his four years.
> > >
> > > "Everything I asked him to do, he did, he was just there, you
> > > didn't have to ask."
> > >
> > > Hopson says his son played both defensive and offensive
positions
> > and in
> > > his opinion always gave 110 percent.
> > >
> > > "Being his father, I want to say I motivated him. At home I
did,
> but
> > > at school it was the coach."
> > >
> > > Hopson said many parents are fighting for Coach Stinson to be
> > rehired.
> > > When they learned that Stinson had not yet had his contract
> renewed,
> > > they attended the last board meeting to voice concerns.
> > >
> > > "He had not been re-appointed. We went to the meeting and we
> pushed
> > > the point," said Hopson. "We are not bullies; we are a bunch of
> > > concerned parents who want answers. The ninth and 12th graders
> are
> > all
> > > suffering. I think the fault lies with the board."
> > >
> > > Hopson believes the Board of Education is not taking the
> leadership
> > role
> > > it should in the school community.
> > >
> > > "I feel the athletic director is being managed by other sources
> with
> > > their own agendas," he said.
> > >
> > > DiSanto said yesterday that he had not seen the board agenda
and
> as
> > far
> > > as he is concerned, board members will "vote their conscious" at
> > > the meeting tonight.
> > >
> > > Lewis and athletic director Ronald Standridge could not be
> reached
> > for
> > > comment.
> > >
> > > Hopson is so concerned about the current atmosphere at the
school
> > that
> > > he sent a letter to the commissioner of education, Lucille E.
> Davy,
> > > detailing his concerns. He also believes someone with access to
> his
> > > son's school records sent erroneous information about his son to
> > > colleges.
> > >
> > > Because of the situation, Hopson's son was put on home
instruction
> > > for the remainder of the year.
> > >
> >
>
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