As eight candidates get their campaigns underway for the Newark school board election in April, Chalkbeat Newark wants to know what questions residents and school stakeholders have for the contenders.
The questions will be key in creating our annual voter guide, a user-friendly interactive feature with essential information about candidates’ positions to help voters make informed decisions at the polls on April 25.
Send us your questions by Thursday, March 30.
The eight candidates, including incumbents Hasani Council and Josephine Garcia, are running to fill three three-year seats on the nine-member board. Flohisha Johnson, a board member since 2017, is not running for a third term.
Council and Garcia, along with returning candidate Allison James-Frison, are running jointly on the “Moving Newark Schools Forward” slate. Historically, this slate has strong endorsement from a coalition that includes Mayor Ras Baraka, charter-sector leaders, and other powerful politicians — not to mention a substantial cushion of cash.
Returning candidate Thomas Luna, a charter school science teacher, along with newcomers Tawana Johnson-Emory and James Wright Jr., comprise another slate on the ballot, “Newark Kids Forward.”
Newcomers Latoya Jackson and Ade’Kamil Kelly round out the remaining two candidates on the ballot.
Among the Newark Board of Education’s responsibilities are approving spending; hiring, evaluating, and firing the superintendent; and setting policies and goals for the district — big picture tasks. The school board also must hold the superintendent responsible for implementing policies and meeting established goals.
Chalkbeat Newark wants to know what questions you have for the candidates and what you think they should prioritize if they win on April 25. Let us know by filling out the form below by Thursday, March 30.
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