First and foremost, Superintendent León has no authority to close charter schools. The decision comes from state Education Commissioner Dr. Lamont Repollet, Baraka says.
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Several years ago, when state-appointed superintendents closed more than 20 Newark Public Schools, they said it was a necessary step to strengthen our public education system.
Most city residents accepted these decisions, despite the displacement of children from neighborhood schools and added transportation stresses for their parents. I do not recall tasteless flyers portraying those school leaders as despots circulating around the city, like those aimed at current Superintendent Roger León today, attacking him over his recommendation to close four charter schools.
The posters are not only mean-spirited, but based on ignorance of actualities.