Stanley Sierokowski speaks at the 5/29/12 Perth Amboy Board of Education Meeting.

No further action taken, Caffrey remains Superintendent

By Joseph L. Kuchie—

PERTH AMBOY —For the second time in less than a month, the Perth Amboy Board of Education once again voted to invoke a “doctrine of necessity” during a May 29th special meeting at Perth Amboy High School.

The doctrine, which allows council members to vote on the future of Superintendent Dr. Janine Caffrey regardless of a conflict of interest, was passed with a 7-1 vote. Board member Diane Roman, who is conflicted due to a relative in the school district, was the only member to vote against the resolution.

This special meeting was very similar to the one held on May 7th, when the Board not only voted to invoke the doctrine but also to place Dr. Caffrey on administrative leave. However, since that move was rejected by Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf, the board voted again and this time stated that the resolution will be posted for 30 days before a further decision is made.

Once the vote was passed, parents and teachers in the audience were forced to wait nearly two hours through a second private session before the board returned. Dr. Caffrey was not included in the second closed-door discussion as the board met with their attorney.

Those who did speak during the public session were concerned about the future of the school district as a result of the special meetings. Stanley Sierokowski believed that although Caffrey was placed back on the board by the state, she should consider removing herself before more damage is done.

“My advice would be to try and negotiate a graceful exit,” Sierokowski said. “Bridges have been burned on both sides and you’ve been neutralized.”

Jeanette Gonzalez did not completely agree with Sierokowski but worried that the drama that has ensued over the past year has ruined the image of Perth Amboy. She argued that the state would no longer take the city seriously and the energy used in these battles should be focused on getting a new high school.

“These votes and meetings affect how we are looked at by the state. They are laughing…Think of the consequences and how it affects everyone,” Gonzalez said. “If everyone used the energy used toward this and put it toward getting a new high school, I guarantee we would have it. This is not helping anyone and we need to shift our focus back.”

The board chose not to comment further on the matter and closed the meeting once the public session concluded. Dr. Caffrey rejoined the board once they returned from closed session and will remain on the board until a further decision is made.