More shifting stories from Chris Cerf about the involvement of his consulting firm in the hostile takeover of Newark public schools. Turns out the funding of his “audit” was provided by – guess who? The Broad foundation.
The acting commissioner gave a revised account of his ties to the firm — acknowledging he had been more involved than he first indicated earlier this week. Cerf had first maintained he had done little more than lend his address for the incorporation papers.
State campaign finance records also show Cerf gave a $1,000 contribution to the re-election campaign of Booker just a month before Global Education Advisors was incorporated by Cerf.
Cerf says his motives have been mischaracterized. "This was entirely driven by an impulse and my desire to support Newark public schools as they move toward reform." Cerf also did a long interview Wednesday with Star-Ledger columnist Bob Braun. It appears in today’s Op-Ed section…. The company founded by Cerf the reformer makes proposals that are then approved by Cerf the commissioner.
This is much the same as happened in NYC; Chris Cerf first hired as a consultant to devise their cockamamie reorganization scheme, in which the districts/regions were dissolved to set up the SSO’s and PSO’s, and then he came in and did it—all while also having a consultant’s contract w/ Edison schools and Edison stock holdings.
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Acting N.J. education chief Cerf revises account of ties to mysterious firm
“The acting commissioner gave a revised account of his ties to the firm — acknowledging he had been more involved than he first indicated earlier this week. Cerf had first maintained he had done little more than lend his address for the incorporation papers.”
N.J. education chief Cerf: 'My very short involvement occurred when I was a civilian'
“A story in The Star-Ledger Wednesday revealed that Newark Mayor Cory Booker hired a consulting company founded by acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf to help overhaul Newark public schools. The company, Global Education Advisors, used Cerf’s home address as its New Jersey address. Cerf gave an extended e-mail interview yesterday to Star-Ledger columnist Bob Braun.”
A valuable lesson: Newark shouldn't leave the public out of the school reform process
Newark schools need improvements, and the $100 million pledge from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg can help. But the way this proposal was drawn up only raises local suspicion that this vital reform process is about political agendas fueled by private money….
What was promised here was public engagement, and it should start with transparency in major decisions about the use of that funding. The public should be informed of every step in the process.
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