Another ENDORSEMENT!!!

Alpha Phi Alpha Frat, Inc.

Zeta Nu Lambda Chapter
P.O. Box 1029
Plainfield, NJ 07061

PRESS RELEASE:


Plainfield Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. endorses the Grand S.L.A.M. Team for Board of Education seats.

The state of affairs of the Plainfield Public Schools is what can only be called an all-time low. The appointment of Dr. Steven Gallon III to Superintendent of Schools by the Board of Education came with enthusiasm and excitement. He was viewed by many as the young savior, to bring the perception of this district back to respectability. Since that time, a number of irregularities have been associated with his administration. The Board of Education, as well as the Superintendent, has lost the confidence of the teachers, staff, students, and the community at large.

The appointment of two former Miami, FL based teachers to high paying administrative positions that did not have the proper credentials, has become a red hot campaign issue. After being told to rescind the contracts of the two unqualified administrators by the Union County Superintendent, the Board of Education, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, immediately voted to appoint these same individuals to similar positions, not recognized by the state that did not require certification, with six figure salaries.

The fallout from this situation, along with other questionable fiscal expenditures, has brought negative attention and embarrassment from around the state to this district by way of newspaper, radio, and television. The actions of the Superintendent now have the immediate attention of the Governor Christie, as well as the State Department of Education. During this ordeal, there has been a disturbingly consistent majority from the current Board of Education that has been complicit with the decisions of the Superintendent.

The district cannot possibly move forward with the current board in place. Therefore, the Plainfield Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., places its support behind the Grand S.L.A.M. Team of Wilma Campbell, Keisha Edwards, Rasheed Abdul-Haqq, and Renata Hernandez. Not only have these individuals been consistently present at board meetings, they have been actively taking part in questioning the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools on their decisions. Ms. Campbell is one of only two current board members that dares to question the actions of the Superintendent; Ms Edwards is a former Plainfield educator that now teaches in another district; Mr. Abdul-Haqq is a past board member and community activist; and Ms Hernandez is a PTO leader and maintains a blog on the district’s current state of affairs. All these candidates bring a set of experiences and a passion that we feel will move this district toward getting back on the right track. Upon their election, we must hold them accountable.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. was founded at Cornell University, in 1906, and is the oldest Black Greek-letter fraternity for college men, with undergraduate and alumni chapters across the country and throughout the world. The Zeta Nu Lambda Chapter was established in Plainfield in 1956. The fraternity strives to help the needy, and promote education for our young people.