Are there more shoes to drop in the ongoing mess over certifications of officials in the Plainfield Public Schools? It seems possible.
The Courier's Mark Spivey reported Sunday (see here) on the continuing saga of Plainfield school officials' mess that the state has repeatedly denied requests for certification by now-coordinators Lalelei Kelly and Lesly Borge, who were brought along from Miami-Dade County by Dr. Steve Gallon III when he came to head up Plainfield's schools in July 2008. (Dr. Gallon's lengthy response is posted online here.)
Bernice posted a summary on her Plaintalker blog this past October (see here) of her very complete coverage of Dr. Gallon's advent and the administrative changes he and Dr. Garnell Bailey (who served as interim Superintendent and Human Resources Director) proposed.
The question that must be on many people's minds is why, if Kelly and Borge were not certified, they were appointed to their initial positions at all? The NJ Dept. of Education website has a complete summary of reciprocity requirements for out-of-state teachers and 'chief school administrators' and educational services providers here.
Was the Board of Ed fully cognizant of the material facts of their qualifications? Did Dr. Bailey have any role in the recruitment of Kelly and Borge, or was their selection solely that of Dr. Gallon? Was the inclusion of Kelly and Borge any part of the negotiations surrounding Dr. Gallon's contract (we may never know)? Was Kelly and Borge's lack of qualifications for certification hidden from the Board of Ed, or did Board members just fail to follow the line of questioning to its logical conclusion?
Is there any history in the school district of putting people into positions for which they have no certification? And if so, has the County Superintendent and/or the state previously turned a blind eye? Or were they kept 'out of the loop' (which I find hard to imagine)?
It is disturbing that as we close in on a year and a half of Dr. Gallon's leadership of the District, Kelly and Borge have yet to complete the requirements for certification. One would think it would be the very first item on their to-do list, though it does seem some steps at least were taken as I have been told the District has made tuition reimbursements to the tune of about $10,000 for coursework. (Dr. Gallon's online response seems to hint that the certification issue HAS BEEN favorably resolved, but it is only a hint -- he makes no direct disclosure -- perhaps awaiting word from the state IN WRITING.)
Notwithstanding all this, I would think Plainfield's taxpayers would want to know what the Board of Ed is doing about requiring the repayment to the District by Kelly and Borge of the salary amounts for which they were not certified to receive payment. If the Obama administration can talk about 'clawbacks' for Wall Street, why not for school employees who turn out to be inappropriately compensated?
Meanwhile, Dr. Bailey was relieved of her duties last month, is said to have been escorted from the building -- shades of corporate America! -- and has not been seen or heard from since. Word in the street is that she is on leave, citing 'stress'.
Most disturbing of all are whispers that Dr. Gallon himself has not completed steps set for him to assume the title of 'Chief School Administrator' as set forth by the State Department of Education reciprocity requirements (see here), though his advanced degrees and experience have no doubt qualified him as ELIGIBLE. What is being said is that Dr. Gallon was given a year to work with a mentor who would then sign off on his certification for New Jersey, and that nearly 18 months after taking over the District, the mentorship is incomplete and the mentor is unwilling to sign off.
Plainfield taxpayers deserve to know that the Superintendent has also fulfilled his requirements.
- Courier, 12/13/2009 --
- "Administrators were repeatedly denied certification, records show"
- "Dr. Gallon's response" -- Online only.
- NJ Dept of Education: "Licensure & Credentials: Out-of-State Reciprocity"
- Plaintalker, 10/29/2009: "School changes in retrospect"
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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12 comments:
While I support Dr G on some of the changes we have seen so far, ie. the uniforms, I am wondering if this is just going to turn out to be more of the same as we have seen in the past. Letrs hope not, we cant afford it. The schools are bad enough.
If I'm not mistaken Dr. Garnell Bailey is listed on recent "bills paid" list for the PMUA. I think it's on the Dumppmua website. Did she just move from one public job to another? This would be an interesting inquiry to look into. Someone could write a book about all the fiascos in Plainfield. It's sad really with all the potential this city has!
Dan, we have gotten more answers and transparency from Dr. Gallon in 18 months than we got from the City in four years. Read his letter. Talk about timeliness. I hope that you clarify some of this in your post. Seems that the Courier may have got it wrong. Poor guy.
http://www.plainfieldnjk12.org/Superintendent/Stakeholder_Letter.pdf
Dan -- I'm hoping your speculation about Dr. Bailey referring Borge and Kelly is just to take up space for your article because clearly these ladies worked in the same district and schools as Gallon and came when his contract was signed in July as support by Spivey's article.
I taught for two years in Plainfield (04-06) and the HR Director at that time was sent packing because a large number of teachers (and administrators (?)) were not properly certified.
In fact, I--and many other teachers--were summoned to meetings with Paula Howard, her chief of staff, the HR director, the school system lawyer and the PEA head--and told that I could be fired on the spot because my certification was not correct. Mine was--and they didn't know it. All they had to do was check the DOE files and their own records.
The only correction was to soften the term "denied" so that it does assume permanent. Which only an ignoramus would think so given the article provides for WHAT is REQUIRED for them to get certification. Turning a letter around in a day doesn't make one TRANSPARENT especially when the letter doesn't say anything.
Dan,
The BOE and the County Superintendent were fully aware of the lack of certification. I know, I was at the meeting when the specific question was brought up. The answer about Gallon's certification was "no comment."
As to the other two, we have been questioning the Board for months about their lack of certification. SG is playing a game with the people of Plainfield, and the taxpayers money.
If in fact these two were not certified for the jobs they held for over a year, are we getting the monies back they collected fraudulently? If Gallon brought them in, knowing they were not certified, doesn't that mean that he defrauded the people of Plainfield and the BOE?
It is time to clean up the mess that was made back in February 2008. Let's get a certified person in that position, someone who know NJ State Law, someone with experience.
I agree with 1:47
I would rather take a letter turned around in a day than no response at all which is what happens at the city. I read the letter and I must admit that I agree with the content. If the practice is not to discuss personnel matters in public than why do so with these two ladies? because they are from Florida?
Dr. Gallon also mentioned that things like that happen with other employees. That is true. I know that for a fact. I just did not think the ladies who I have actually worked with should have been treated this way.
I am glad that the matter is solved.They have their certifications and let's just move on.
Dan, you might want to stick with the City unless you are going to rely on rumors and whispers. Some of what you have posted is way off base in the truth category.
8:05 is correct.It is well known that Dr.Bailey fell ill while at one of the schools. while she may be stressed out, we all are, she was NOT escorted from the building. That is simply NOT TRUE.
In fact Dr. Bailey wound up in the hospital having been taken there by ambulance. Not exactly being "escorted out" as you "reported."
Thanks for pointin out so muxh great things I personally wana see this new superintendent get fired with all this uniform mess. Their ain't even a proper uniform to have one. Our school has not changed n francly I believe it gotten worst the drop out rate has increases do to the lack of people wanting to wear uniform. Things should go bak to the way they used to.
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