On Tuesday night, the former superintendent Lawrence Feinsod joined with State Senator Richard Codey, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, and Assemblyman John McKeon to discuss educational issues with Madison’s Board of Education. Major issues including special education, charter schools, tenure reform, and standardized testing were fervently discussed. Members of the community brought forth the accomplishments and distinctions of these past months, ranging from extraordinarily high test scores to MHS becoming ranked the sixth best high school in the state of New Jersey.
As the soon to be incumbent CEO of the New Jersey School Boards Association, educational expert Lawrence Feinsod revealed his plans to assemble a task force that will cooperate with legislators and seek a manner by which to meet the special needs of students around the state.
Richard Codey, although commonly acknowledged and admired as the former governor, is currently state senator of the 27th legislative district. Over the course of the meeting, he revealed that he would oppose a number of issues including two-year graduation courses and virtual charter schools, although Feinsod admitted that the virtual world is gaining “more traction than we may want to believe.”
Assemblyman John McKeon and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey, our district’s representatives to the New Jersey General Assembly, also had major issues to discuss. McKeon drew particular interest to tenure reform, mentioning that changes need to be made in order to adapt to the “new economic reality.” Assemblywoman Jasey had a stronger focus upon special education. She promised to “review, revisit, and revise” charter school law and insured that the last thing she and her associates want to do is set parents of special education students against those of students in standard education.
Although originally scheduled to be a fifteen minute meet and greet, a spectacular showing from the Madison community led to two hours of extensive questioning and debate by the Board of Education. The legislators met this with patience and consistent energy, not once failing to answer a question thoroughly or appear enthused.