During its reorganization meeting on Wednesday, January 3, the Livingston Board of Education formally swore in Fang Gong as its newest member, and named Board members Pamela Chirls as president andJenissaAmette as vice president.
Gong Sworn In
At the beginning of the meeting, school business administrator and board secretary, Thomas Lambe, swore in board election winner, Fang Gong, as a Board of Education member.
Gong thanked the Board and residents of Livingston for voting for her during the election,.
“Thank you for your trust,” she said. “Your vote means so much, and that is the motivation that will keep me going. I am committed in leading up to your expectations. Together, I’m sure that we will make a collective, positive impact in this beautiful Livingston community. Thank you for this incredible opportunity.”
President, Vice President Named Board member Seth Cohen nominated Pamela Chirls as president.
“We have been privileged and honored in this community to have a long-standing and long-term Board member who has brought with her not just knowledge, not just passion, but a deep caring for our students and for our community, along with a keen editorial eye for all of us,” Cohen said. “It is my privilege and honor to nominate my colleague, mentor, and friend, Pamela Chirls.”
He also nominated Boardmember Jenissa Artnette as vice president.
“It is my privilege and honor to nominate Jenissa Amette as vice president of the Boardof Education.” Cohen said. “She has come to our Board and brought with her a key understanding of the classroom as a teacher with a deep passion for equity, and make sure our district continues to deliver results for all children in this community.”
All board members voted in agreement.
After the nominees were selected Chirls thanked residents, her colleagues and the town for collaborating with the Board of Education on numerous projects and issues, such as returning control of Monmouth Court back to the district for use as a school.
“We value the close collaboration that led to the agreement andprogress for Monmouth Court, which we will bring to the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee,” Chirls said. “We look forward to having our two on two, and five on five meetings this year, as well as our continued work with the Liaison Committee. A respectful, meaningful dialogue amongst district, board, and community members is a critical ingredient to enabling students’ success, academic achievements, and a strong school community.”
She also stated that the Board will take action based on the equity audit that was released in the winter, and focus on special education.
Israel Trip
Later in the meeting, superintendent Matthew Block asked the Board to approve his trip to Israel with Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest, New Jersey. He was invited by the group, at no cost by the district.
All members except for vice president Jenissa Arnette approved of the trip.
Public Comments
Many parents were upset with Block’s trip to Israel, as well as an advisory session that was held at Heritage Middle School for its students before winter break. The advisory session, titled “Courageous Conversations,” let students talk about the war in the Middle East, and how it impacts the community, including the definitions of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. The session also taught students how to better recognize the impact of bias and hate, and how to create a more supporting and accepting school environment for all students.
Livingston resident and parent Naureen Akhter did not agree with the trip to Israel, stating that it could affect students negatively.
“This trip is sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Metro West, New Jersey; an organization that boasts about getting books banned in the Newark school district, about life under Israeli occupation, and was instrumental in cancelling a celebration of Palestinian heritage in West Orange.” Akhter said. “According to the Board of Education’s ethics code, you’re meant to be free from special interest. What influence will this have on our students’ education after this trip? During an advisory session before the holiday break, named ‘Couragous Conversations’, in which teachers were meant to discuss anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, some of our students reported that only anti-Semitism was addressed, in the interest of time. Others during those advisory sessions expressed concern and wrongdoing by both sides. So, what message does it send to the students who are struggling with the ethics of this conflict, if their leadership is going to Israel right now, endorsing one side?”
Another parent, Alyse Heilpern, stated that the way the advisory meeting was presented to students, including her daughter, was problematic.
“As a Jewish person, my daughter came home and said, ‘Mom, it was really bad. It was sort of like, we should all like each other without really recognizing that both sides are hurting, and at the end of the presentation, the teacher said, ‘I don’t really know enough about this subject, if you have more questions, ask another teacher,’” Heilpern said. “I think we’ve heard, from both sides, that it wasn’t well thought out. In the future, when we have these presentations, we really need to prepare the teachers and give them tools, because this is complicated as adults. We have problems grasping how to handle anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and it think it’s safe to say, that on both sides, everyone is hurting right now. We need to come together and have discourse that educates and brings people closer together, instead of promoting hate. Just like Muslim students, Jewish students do not feel safe.”
In response to the public comments that were made at the meeting, Block stated that if a student has experienced anti-Semitism or Islamophobia in the school system, it should be reported immediately to the student’s principal; and if the problem is not being handled once it has been reported to the school, parents can contact him directly.
“I understand that there are things going on in the world right now that, no matter how hard we work, we may not be able to make every one of our children feel perfectly safe in our schools. It saddens and hurts me, but it’s reality.” Block said. “I saw the lesson plans , which both address anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and the main theme of the lesson was having courageous conversations and expressing yourselves.”
He also stated that although the lessons may not be perfect, the attempts that the district makes to teach these lessons can be learned from, and can be reflected on.
“We’re committed to educating our kids, and trying to do it in as fair and balanced a way as we possibly can.” Block said.
During the Israel trip, Block stated that he will be hearing people on the ground and learning about their experiences during the attacks in October.
“As a former social studies teacher, I used to talk to my students a lot about primary sources,” Block said. “I believe that this experience will allow me to see firsthand, and learn information to bring back to the district. I’ll also have the opportunity to connect with other educators from around the state, and local leaders who will also be on this trip. I will have a chance to collaborate and talk to them about how they are approaching these challenging topics in the classroom, in hopes that I can learn how we can do it better. ”
