By Lev D. Zilbermints
NEWARK – Veleriz Santana, the policy director for State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, was appointed by the Newark Board of Education to fill a vacancy. The process of appointment raised questions of conflict of interest and whether the appointment was legal to begin with.
The website newark.chalkbeat.org wrote late January 28 that Veleriz Sanatana was chosen by a 7-1 vote of the school board to replace Octavio “Tave” Padilla, a two-term board member who died shortly before Thanksgiving. Santana has powerful political connections, being the policy director to State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz. Previously Santana served as an aide to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
According to newark.chalkbeat.org, the North Ward Democratic Committee backed Padilla for his two terms on the school board. Like the late board member, Vereliz Sanatana is a member of the North Ward Democratic Committee.
According to newark.chalkbeat.org, Santana majored in English at Stockton University. This was followed by a master’s degree in English literature and linguistics. Currently Santana is doing her graduate studies at Rutgers-Newark. Her major is Master’s in Business Administration.
Santana’s term expires in April, when voters will choose someone to serve out Padilla’s final year. In order to stay on the Newark Board of Education, Sanatana will have to be a candidate in the 2021 school board election.
Was Santana’s election valid?
There are questions whether Santana was validly elected by the board. As a policy director to State Senator M. Teresa Ruiz, Santana is in a position to influence policy on both state and local level. This raises the question of conflict of interest for Ms. Vereliz Santana. Does her allegiance lie with Newark or the state of New Jersey?
Activists say that the bylaws of the Newark Board of Education were not followed. “Local Talk” attempted to verify this statement by contacting Joseph Zarra, interim Superintendent of Newark Schools by phone. As of press time, Zarra did not return messages left with his secretary.
Another criticism put forth by activists is that the appointment itself was done at an executive meeting, away from public scrutiny. The community was denied input and participation. Denise Cole, a Newark resident, said that the Board of Education should pay more attention to what is going on.
In addition to all of the above, “Local Talk” learned from credible sources that the Newark Board of Education was very likely not following the Roberts Rules of Order during meetings. The key point, research showed, is that Robert’s Rules of Order, when followed, guard an organization against conflict of interest.
Criticism from former board members
Writing on her blog, blackwomanteacher.net, former board member Leah Z. Owens blasted Santana’s appointment as deeply flawed and the board as uncaring. Owens said that the board used the January 26 and 28 meetings in an unethical and illegal way. This is how Owens interpreted 2019 New Jersey Statutes Annotated, Title 18A – EDUCATION, Section 12-15 – Filling vacancies.
“The law states that a school board gets to fill a vacancy of this kind by majority vote of the remaining members. In no other place is a specific, required process outlined. This board, under [President Josephine C.] Garcia’s leadership allowed nearly the full 65 days allotted to make an appointment before having a discussion (in Executive Session, no less) as a board about what to do. Then, with the business and regular meetings occurring two days apart from each other, made NO mention at Tuesday’s business meeting of their decision to appoint someone. They approved Thursday’s (tonight’s) agenda at the Tuesday meeting and then amended it as soon as tonight’s meeting opened. They amended the agenda to add the appointment vote.
So, if the law allows them to do this (but does it?) they’re not in the wrong, right? Wrong. This board had a choice. They always had a choice as to how to go filling the vacancy. One such choice would have been to take applications from all those interested, deliberate over the applications, and then appoint someone. Another choice would have been to appoint a candidate from the last school board election, first asking the highest vote getter,” Owens concluded.
Newark group puts out statement demanding reforms
New Jersey Communities United put out a strongly-worded statement demanding immediate reforms to the Newark Board of Education.
“We are not only disappointed but outraged by the conduct of certain members of the Newark Board of Education, particularly as it relates to community participation in our children’s education and public school system. There is an institutional culture, fostered by the Newark Board of Education, which dismisses and minimizes the concerns of the community. Public apologies are not a remedy for systemic and institutional inequity. Each member of the Newark Board of Education must honor the privilege that has been granted through the democratic process, and respect the hard work and dedication of the community who fought to restore the decision-making authority which has been wielded with such little regard,” the statement read in part.
New Jersey Communities United demanded the “immediate resignation of Board President Josephine Garcia for her remarks at the January 28th school board meeting regarding public participation; rescinding the Board’s appointment of Vereliz Sanatana and following the guidelines and regulations established by the State Board of Education and the Essex County Board of Elections which provide for a public and transparent process for filling vacant seats on the Newark Board of Education; an immediate end to closed-door business meetings and decision-making that do not take place in full view of the public.”
The statement went out to all Board members, the Superintendent of Newark Schools, Newark City Council members, and many other public officials and organizations.
