Teachers cheer new superintendent at Plainfield school board meeting

Teachers cheer new superintendent at Plainfield school board meeting

Thursday, June 21, 2007
BY ALEXI FRIEDMAN

Star-Ledger Staff

The enthusiastic applause seemed as much an endorsement of Plainfield's new superintendent as it was as show of support for the school board.

About 150 teachers stood and cheered after board President Patricia Barksdale read a statement detailing Paula Howard's resignation as Plainfield school superintendent and introduced her replacement, Peter Carter. The ovation came at Tuesday night's board of education meeting in the high school library, which was attended mostly by teachers.

Carter succeeds Howard, who resigned abruptly June 6 in a letter to the board, about five months after her contract had been extended. The reasons for Howard's departure remain unclear. Howard unsuccessfully attempted to rescind her resignation, and the board quickly named her successor. Neither Howard nor Barksdale have offered details about any fallout that may have precipitated the move.

The teachers union, the Plainfield Education Association, had a strained relationship with Howard and the board after going without a new contract for more than a year and a half. A new deal was hammered out in December.

But on Tuesday, teachers turned out in force.

"I perceive a combined sense of excitement and renewed optimism," said Susan Martin, union president, who spoke during the public comment session.

Others in the audience addressed the board, including Brenda Gilbert, who said she was "glad, that as a unified body, you decided to have the backs of these children." She continued, adding, "you grew a backbone, you grew a spine, and I'm proud of you."

Howard's departure came a week after the board's business administrator, Victor Demming, left the district for a new job. Angelina Chiaravalloti, her chief of staff, also resigned, and the board subsequently eliminated that position. Michael Donow, a former Teaneck administrator, replaces Demming.

Carter, 63, lives in Milton, Del., and is a former Essex County school superintendent who retired three years ago as superintendent of the Ringwood school district in Passaic. As Plainfield superintendent, Carter said he would not commute between New Jersey and Delaware, but would be in the city "for four, sometimes five days a week."

In an interview, Carter said he would take the summer "to study the ship so it will sail smoothly." He will now steer an Abbott school district that continues to underperform, despite receiving about 70 percent of its $140 million annual budget from the state.

Carter handed out medals to several student achievers at Tuesday's meeting, then watched a presentation detailing the district's substandard performance on state administered math and language exams.

That will change, Carter assured the audience.

"I'm certainly not proud of this kind of achievement," he said. "But give us a year, and we'll see some things happen."

Alexi Friedman may be reached at (908) 302-1505 or afriedman@starledger.com.


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