This blog post distills a Jersey City editorial written by 200 public school parents. They applaud four Board of Education trustees for putting special education front and center and pushing for more transparency about a long-awaited report.
The piece traces a messy sequence of meetings, internal memos, and delayed public disclosure. It also highlights some pretty alarming graduation-readiness data for special education students.
Easy booking across hundreds of accommodations from luxury high-rises to unearthed brownstone treasures.
Browse Accommodations Now
The editorial’s core demand is simple: treat special education as a real district-wide priority, not just an afterthought. The authors single out Tia Rezabala, Dr. Matthew Schneider, Dr. George Blount, and Lorenzo Richardson for trying to set a public timeline for the release of Special Education Agreed-Upon Report Part 2.
That motion didn’t pass—the February 19 meeting fell short by one vote. The letter frames the trustees’ efforts as “action over silence,” and basically calls out the lack of accountability that so many families have felt for years.
Looking back, the editorial lays out a troubling story. Lerch, Vinci & Bliss LLP got the green light to create an agreed-upon procedures report in June 2023, and the district signed it on September 19, 2024.
An internal memo referencing that report circulated in October 2024, right before the business administrator resigned. The board didn’t publicly acknowledge getting the report until later.
Find available hotels and vacation homes instantly. No fees, best rates guaranteed!
Check Availability Now
By late 2025, a string of personnel changes ended with Acting Deputy Superintendent Gerard Crisonino leaving. The board didn’t talk about the report’s findings in public until November.
All of this left families in the dark for a year, wondering about possible financial irregularities tied to special education. That kind of gap just erodes trust.
Timeline and findings behind the call
The editorial points out specific allegations from the report: overpayments, unsupported invoices, and mistakes on the 2022–2023 state aid application. Transparency problems around special education go back to 2019.
Community worries spiked after spring 2025, when the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment showed only 14.2% of special education students were graduation-ready in ELA, and just 1.4% in math. That’s devastating—and it’s hard not to feel like all the secrecy has real consequences for students.
The editorial ends with a pretty direct challenge to the trustees who voted against releasing Part 2. It urges them to reconsider, push for immediate public release, publish a clear timeline, and show some courage for the sake of vulnerable learners.
What the community can expect next and what readers should know
This editorial lays out some real expectations for the district’s leadership and public accountability. The parents’ group calls transparency a moral and educational must, not just another political talking point.
They want clear steps—like a public timeline for releasing the report. They also push for extra oversight to keep these problems from happening again.
Supporting students with special needs isn’t optional; it’s central, especially as graduation goals stay front and center.
- getting to Jersey City
- things to do in Jersey City
- where to stay in Jersey City
- Jersey City hotels
- city districts
For local families, this whole situation is a reminder: what happens in city government shows up in classrooms and shapes kids’ futures. The editorial nudges district leaders to show real transparency, not just talk, and to actually help every student—no matter their background or ability.
Jersey City keeps changing, and honestly, the health of its public schools says a lot about how the community’s doing. The debate about special education—funding, oversight, accountability—kind of decides how families interact with city officials and what reforms might come next in city districts.
If you’re visiting or thinking about staying here, you’ll notice the city’s energy. Its neighborhoods, schools, and public life all reflect how civic leadership can turn into real opportunities for kids and families.
Parents aren’t mincing words: demand transparency, push for a public action plan, and don’t lose sight of the students who need protection most in Jersey City’s schools. The future of special education here? It’s still up in the air, and everyone’s watching to see what trustees do next.
Find the perfect hotel or vacation rental. Instant booking, no fees!
View Top Stays
Here is the source article for this story: Op-Ed: Jersey City BOE shows that leadership is not defined by title, but by courage!
Getting Around Jersey City, NJ
Plan Your Stay in Jersey City, NJ
Things to Do in Jersey City, NJ
