What is the Zone?

My open letter to EPSD about The Zone. 

Please share.

I am writing to urge you to take decisive action, to lead--and find a way to support The Zone for the 2020-2021 school year. Now is not a time to reduce the mental health and community supports for students and faculty.

I understand that Trenton is in crisis and has no good choices to make. However, Trenton does not know what we know, which is that Englewood Public Schools were in crisis before the pandemic. I know this because through the leadership of Mariam Gerges and Liz Corsini, along with Sanetta Ponton, I helped lead hours of workshops for DMHS faculty and administrators last year.

We heard first hand how difficult the conditions in the school were, their struggles in reaching students, and their desire to lead their colleagues in creating a better climate in which students, regardless of their traumas, could learn and thrive. We were having these conversations and workshops in August, September, January and February. What will those discussions sound like over Zoom this year?

I can assure you that the kind of professional development and coaching that your faculty and administrators received last year through these workshops would have cost EPSD thousands of dollars--but you got it "free" from Bergen Family Center, The Zone and the community members like Sanetta, Flat Rock Brook and me--who will do almost anything for Englewood's children. Most importantly, EPSD got all this expertise for "free" because the community knows the value that Bergen Family Center brings--and when called upon by them, we show up.

Now it is time for EPSD to show up for The Zone. I assure you that your students and faculty cannot survive, let alone thrive, without the support that The Zone and its committed staff provide. They pivoted seamlessly to the virtual world, and connected with students in a matter of days. In fact, there were moments on the weekly community calls that Sanetta organized, when it became obvious that Bergen Family Center knew more about some of EPSD students than the district did itself. You need The Zone, we all know you do.

Find the money--in the paper clip and toner budget, in the snacks for professional development budget--find the money. 

Step up and lead. The times demand it.

Sincerely,

Lynne Algrant

Former Council at Large and former President of the Englewood City Council

Our Community Needs The Resource!

 For 20+ years community members of Englewood, NJ have been advocating for a community center. 

I have watched other surrounding municipalities build and enhance their community centers while we continue to fight for one in Englewood. One must ask why. What is it that is preventing city leadership from allowing a community center in Englewood?

There have been a plethora of excuses including financing, programming, location, and even blaming the Jews. All bullshit.

Our schools are steadily declining, people are sleeping in our parks, violent crime is increasing but yet all leadership seems to care about is $$$. The bullshit story goes like this-

The city is broke so let’s bring in more ratables by declaring areas in need of redevelopment and offer PILOTs so we can attract big developers who will come in and change the dynamics of neighborhoods ( where most leadership does not live). The city gets PILOT money, developers make money, and the schools get nothing, people living here get nothing and we don’t know if anyone in leadership gets anything. What is wrong with this picture?

These developments change neighborhoods. The Bennett Rd project, for example, not only has destroyed the character of the neighborhood aesthetically, but chances are it will change the demographic of the population. How? By diluting the population. By changing the neighborhood demographic. Keep in mind 1 William is also in this same neighborhood.

(Please don’t try to accuse me of promoting segregation, because that is not what this is. First, it was white people who created these communities of color through redlining. The fact of the matter is we all find comfort in being around others with whom we share a cultural familiarity). These 2 projects will bring in probably a minimum of 400 people, many of whom, if not most, will NOT be people of color. Now, let me be clear, this is significant because people of color have distinct wants and needs from leadership (on all levels) that stem from their experiences in this country. Diluting the neighborhood demographics dilutes the voting power of people of color. People of color were herded into these neighborhoods through redlining and now you want to take them back.

The question is what are you giving us in return? So far....nothing, but that’s not because we haven’t asked. We’ve been asking for a community center for 30 years and yet here we are. What’s ironic is that we aren’t asking for something that would only benefit us but we are asking for something that would enhance Englewood at large.

So now that we’ve established the plan, whether you choose to acknowledge or not, and the ask, where do we go from here?

People are our greatest investment and now is the time for leadership to start investing in the people of Englewood. We have got to take a proactive step towards supporting residents, especially given the uncertain times ahead. We must have a centrally located facility not just for programming but clearly there are socio-economic needs. Every week somebody touts how many meals have been given out by various organizations. Thank God for these organizations because many would not eat without them. I am concerned however that I don’t not hear any leadership acknowledging the fact that, off my rough calculation, close to 2000 meals are being given out each week indicates we have a real problem with poverty in Englewood. Poverty, poor performing school district (based on SLA scores), increase crime, people sleeping in parks and yet our lovely leadership still refuses to invest in the people.

Our entire community needs the resource. A place to promote mental/physical well-being, enhance environmental awareness, develop social awareness, increase efficiency of current services, provide space for schools, essential worker childcare, provide social resources, etc.....

Many refer to the Liberty School as the gateway to our city. Well shouldn’t a gateway be a place that welcomes people with a myriad of offerings and services. Usually upon entering a place you have a welcome center, information center, resources.

It is incumbent upon the city council President Charles Cobb to put on the agenda ASAP the issuing an RFP for a community center at the Liberty School site. Englewood is suffering and the personal agendas must be pushed to the side. We have a unique once in a lifetime opportunity with Metro Community Center and that must be explored. It is deplorable that there is an organization willing to invest more into the people of Englewood than our own city leadership.

Gauging temperatures-we already know we have a fever, it’s called socio-economic crisis

Sustainability- make it happen, hire a grant writer, create foundation, get sponsorship, whatever it takes, that’s why we elected you, figure it out.

#Justdoit
#peopleareourgreatestinvestment
#povertyaliveandkicking
#electedofficials
#workforthepeople
#incaseyouforget
#votethemALLout
#randomthoughts

Author:

Penned by Amy Jones Bulluck

Is This Inclusive Enough For You?

Protect the Whistle Blowers!

PART II    A Work in Progress

There are times when we should 
just let the whistle blow, and listen.

Whistle Blower #1- Janna Smith worked in ESTEPNJ for 4 days... 

Whistle Blower #2 - Victoria Bauxbam, one of the certified teachers, quit after the first day of work in Mrs. David's Youth Camp/Day Care Center.

Angela David has accused the Whistle Blower of harassment, Intimidation and bullying. She even had her attorney write a threatening letter to Ms. Smith warning her that she was going to be sued if she did not stop investigating Mrs. David. Last I heard, it is not a crime to investigate someone. When that becomes a crime, all of us must be wary and begin to lobby our legislators. Ms. Smith's allegations against Mrs. David and the ESTEPNJ camp were substantiated by the investigation and reports of the Health Department Inspectors and the Health Department Director himself. 

Whistle Blower # 3 - The Director of the Health Department was steadfast and followed the case to the end. September 12, 2019, Angela David pled guilty to a lesser charge and was fined $206.00 in Palisades Park Municipal Court.

I wrote the Business Administrator and asked questions about the rental. Please be aware of the fact that there are rules about School Board Members and members of their immediate families entering into contracts with the Board of Education. These 2 employees (Superintendent and Business Administrator) should be fully aware of these rules. The Business Administrator is also the Board of Education Secretary. The BA's job is the protect the Board of Education, so why were the pertinent questions never asked? Why was the rental request ever presented to the Superintendent and then to the Board of Education, when it is obvious that the venture will put money in Mrs. David's pocket? It does not matter that she put the Camp in her husband's name. It is her household. To top it all off, she does not even include it on her 2018 Financial Disclosure, which is required by law. She made money.

Whistle Blower #4  The Business Administrator/Board Secretary? The BA claims that the complaints went to the Englewood Health Department and not to the Board of Education. Notice that Janna Smith included Robert Kravitz in the email detailing the original complaint. Robert L. Kravitz is the Board of Education. (The Superintendent is a non-voting member of the Board of Education)

We wanted to know how Robert L. Kravitz, the Superintendent of Schools responded to the above  email from the Director of the Health Department that clearly puts his boss, a Board of Education Member in a bad light. Please be advised that we made OPRA requests for and examined Facilities Rental Applications for the last 3 years and all other rentals were not handled like this one. EPSD is very lucky indeed that all rentals are not handled this way. Number 1 other rental agreements, or contracts have some type of signature where this one does not.  Even though this "contract" is not signed, it is a legally binding contract, because it was presented and voted on in a resolution by the entire Board of Education. Iron clad, contract. It is even called a contract by the attorney in a Board meeting. Check the minutes here. Check out the condition of the paperwork. This is a contract between the EPSD and the husband of a Englewood Public School District Board Member for $24,750.00. Does that sum appear anywhere on this tackily executed form?

Where is Michael Hunken? He is the six figure Facilities Operations Director. We have not seen him in several years. In the past, he was present at all meetings.

I wanted to know what was done once the Board had knowledge of this dilemma.
Below is the answer to my question. It seems that all communications to the Board were shut down during this event. Seems there may have been information contained in the responses between the City Manager and the Superintendent of Schools that were never to be shared. Seems there was some inappropriate comments shared between the 2 entities. Below is the response to my query.

So a Board of Education Member was banned from the premises of the Board of Education. Now that is news. Several spot checks were conducted by the Health Department designed to make sure that Mrs. David and her camp did not have access to Board property until after they were approved by the State and Local Health Departments. Based on the answer to my OPRA request, an Admin in charge of the email flow turned off or refused email from the City that contained certain key words. What do you think that means?

On August 7, 2018, Janna Smith, the Whistle Blower filed an Ethics Complaint

against Angela Midgette-David detailing the inequities involved in the opening of a Youth Camp which also serviced children in diapers without prior approval from the State and Local Health Departments.  She also filed and Ethics Complaint against Robert L. Kravitz, the Englewood Superintendent of Schools alleging

that he called her employer, where she worked with Angela David, and got her

fired  because of her reporting the Camp.

Now I ask you, Have you ever heard of a Youth Camp that accepts toddlers

in diapers and  children up to 16 years old. Isn't that a Youth Camp and a Day

Care Center combined. It seems the local and state Officials all seem to ignore that pertinent information. The rules for operating a Day Care Center are very

from those governing the operation of a Youth Day Camp.

February 9, 2019 – Angela Midgette – began texting that she had a lien on Janna Smith’s, the whistle blower's home at 8:20 am. I have interviewed Janna Smith and needless to say, Angela Midgette -David does not have a lien on Janna Smith's home. She also falsely stated that she fired Janna. I notice that she never mentions Victoria Bauxbaum who quit on the first day and was also the one who called the Health Department and alerted them to the fact that the Camp was open without approval. Mrs. David had been allegedly lying to the Health Department telling them she would open on July 2 with 40 Campers. In reality, she was already open with 96 Campers. Meanwhile, the teachers working in the Camp did not know that they were not supposed to be open.

Since I started my own investigation, Angela has also threatened to put a lien on my home and take my house and to teach me a lesson. Is Mrs. David predisposed to threats against the real estate of those who oppose her, because of the situation with her own home? She has called me names and threatened to R. Kelly me with golden shower. (For those of you who don't know, that means she will piss on me.

On or about February 26, 2019,  the Daily Voice published an article detailing the events described in the Whistle Blowers email to all of the parties that should have been concerned. The Whistle Blower was forced to engage an attorney to try and stop Mrs. David from intimidating her.

Mrs. David has demonstrated time and again that she will do and say anything she

pleases to get what she wants. She has included this writer in her many threats contained in texts to persons who were to relay them to the intended. I have ceased all communications with Mrs. David since last year. This has only fueled her venom against me in that she blames me anytime something unpleasant happens to her that is related to her office on the Board of Education. Yes, I did advise Mrs. David that she should not run for re-election to the Board of Education. I advised that she should take her attention home and take care of her personal and financial problems.







I do not appreciate being called a "lying cunt" or her giving me a "golden shower".  So this is the temperament that Stephen Brown and Glenn Garrison prefer. Notice that she likes threatening people with a law suit to take their homes. In this one, she is going to send Haitian Jack after me and he has been deported. She is also going to sue me for my home and my pension. Is she making these threats with the advice of and Attorney.



In an email distributed recently, Stephen and Glenn accuse current School board Candidates of behavior that is an outright lie. Not one of the Candidates have done what is said in this communication.

"...Angela has shown that she has the right temperament and approach to dealing with

our difficult problems. Other candidates in this election have come to school board meetings yelling at and trying to intimidate the superintendent and the board. That’s completely and utterly ineffective. We’ve seen Angela at work and we are proud to support her...."

Not one of the Candidates in question is guilty of what this writer suggests. Not one. I challenge them to prove this assertion. Then again, they know they don't have to prove it. All they have to do is say it, and there comes the doubt. Well, it is a lie. Straight up! Folks have yelled at School Board Meetings, but not one of those folks are running for a seat on the Englewood Board of Education.

How many of the Codes of Ethics has she violated in this one Text Message Exchange? She is Chair of the Personnel Committee.

g. I will hold confidential all matters pertaining to the schools which, if disclosed, would needlessly injure individuals or the schools. In all other matters, I will provide accurate information and, in concert with my fellow board members, interpret to the staff the aspirations of the community for its school.

 We have noticed that Angela does not deal well with criticism, nor does she hold secret events and conversations from Personnel Committee meetings and does try to use information from those meetings to gain power over the Superintendent and other School Board Members. We have seen that she  does carry tales that keep chaos in motion.

The text below caused a great deal of commotion in the Community. One of her fellow Board Members took exception to Rick Whilby posting this Ezra Pound meme. In an email thread, obtained via OPRA, an Open Public Records Act, request. Elizabeth Schwartz blamed Donovan Rodriques for leaking an email that she sent to all the Board Members complaining. As you can see from the text to the left, Angela Midgette-David is the one who let the donkey out of the barn.






Number 1 on the list. Angela is not being sued. Chuckle, Chuckle. Click here for a link to the documentation of a law suit that has been filed against Angela David by the Board of Education of Englewood.

Notice that Mrs. David does not realize that she is posting as herself. She is speaking of herself in the 3rd person. Did Mrs. David created 2 fake profiles on Facebook so she could make all types of accusations against persons who oppose her running for the Board of Education? Barbara Jackson and Michelle Greene came to us out of the blue in order to defend Mrs. David. They only show up when Mrs. David needs them. They have no profile pictures and only 1 friend, the Recreation Department. Who is that?

In the post to the left Mrs. David got caught between her profiles. She is defending herself in the 3rd person. It would be hilarious if this person was not already a voting member of the Englewood Board of Education.

BER-DOC-008347-19 As you can see, her husband's Company ESTEPNJ, LLC.  In Effect, she is being sued by the very Board of Education that she is running to retain her seat on. I hope that the members of the Community who never got their money back remember her on Election Day.
She was also sued by Janna Smith, the Whistle Blower who got her money, her salary for 55 hours.

Pictured above is the check awarded Janna from the NJ Court system. Below is another disgruntled person who did not get a refund when Mrs. David's Camp was shut down the summer of 2018. Why didn't she just admit to the parents that the Camp had to open later than planned? Was it easier to accept the 96 children allowing their parents to believe that the camp was cleared by the state and local authorities to open?

Below is another set of texts in which she is only supposed to discuss with other members of the Board of Education. Keep in mind that Mrs. David is the Chairperson for the Personnel Committee. At least one of the person's mentioned in the text message below is no longer with the Board of Education.

Some of the suspended kids just left her house. Is Mrs. David saying that some of the children suspended for the fight at the high school just left her home?


This is the one that really got me. How is it that she can accuse the 3 male members on the Board of having carnal relations with someone in the public? What havoc this woman wreaks among all who give her audience. I did not and do not have a protégé. This obsession with the Board is something that worries me.

Upon reading all of her ramblings, it is no wonder the Board of Education Members think we are all attacking them. I have never attacked a School Board Member.

What was doing February 8? It is the birthday of someone very important to me and I was continuing to ignore the calls from Mrs. David. I have no idea why she wished to continue speaking with me. I develop and affinity towards a person when I learn that nearly everything they have ever said to me was a prevarication around the truth. That happened with me and Mrs. David.

Long before the ESTEPNJ Camp opened, Mrs. David asked my advice about opening a Camp. I told her it was a great idea, but she should open it outside of Englewood or at least not in one of the School buildings. I was in attendance when the Board voted to rent Mrs. David the Lunch Room at the Middle School.  You would not believe the number of stories I was told about which government agency closed her Camp down and why. When I could no longer take the lies and the calls to my home before 7 in the am, I blocked her and stopped accepting her calls. She was interrupting my everyday life with her life, which seemed in shambles.

In my humble opinion, Mrs. David should not be given another chance to defraud the people of Englewood. I have grandchildren in District and shudder to think that Mrs. David will have any part in planning the future of their education.

I have often wondered what she said to the Editor of the Daily Voice in order to intimidate him into removing the article that simply states that she is challenging the Health Departments charges that she did not get Criminal Background Checks on her employees. How many times did she not appear in court when mandated to appear? She finally pled guilty to a lesser charge in a change of venue hearing in Palisades Park, NJ on September 12, 2019. She was fined $206.00, and her attorney tried to negotiate a payment plan for her. I guess I am the enemy because I followed the case to the culmination. I wanted to see if justice would be served. 

Ethics Violation filed by Janna Smith against Angela Midgette-David

https://www.nj.gov/education/legal/ethics/2019/C50-18.pdf

Decision on Motion to Dismiss Janna Smith vs. Robert Kravitz

https://www.nj.gov/education/legal/ethics/2018/pdf