The two high-ranking Plainfield Schools administrators, that there was controversy about, have been terminated late Tuesday.
Lesly V. Borge, Coordinator of Special Projects and District Affairs and Lalelei Kelly, Coordinator of Distirct Strategic Planning and Accountability. Were terminated Tuesday night. Union County Superintendent Carmen Centuolo in October 2009 asked the Board to rescind the contracts of Borge and Kelly, citing that they both had lack of New Jersey certification. In November the board voted to do so, but to also rehire both to slightly different titles with salaries of a little more than $100,000 each. Both women, both were full-time teachers in the same Miami school system- all, including Gallon and former Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Angela Kemp. Also, prior to receiving their new and most recent positions had annual salaries that combined to alittle under $240,000.
The State Department of Education recently released an 11-page investigative report on the controversy - in this report it revealed that the pair continued to hold positions that never received required approval from Union County Superintendent Carmen Centuolo, that they initially beat out 50 other candidates for the positions; including many who were already employed within the district and obtained required certification.
On Tuesday the Board retreated into closed session at 10pm Tuesday, a couple of minutes after a retired school official suffered a medical emergency, this person was removed from the Auditorium of the Board Offices, as of Wednesday her condition is unknown. When the Board returned about an later it was announced that two names would be added to calling the termination of District employees. The Board voted unanimously to approve the terminations, the board also voted 6-3 to approve Steve Gallon III, Superintendent of Schools corrective action plan that was created in response to the state report, with Lisa C. Logan-Leach, Wilma Campbell, and Sandra Chambers dissenting. Gallon, rushed from the auditorium immediately after the meeting, refusing to answer questions from media members before hurrying to the top floor of the Administrative Building, he also hasn't answered phone calls or an email seeking comments. Board Members also declined to discuss the terminations on the record. No one answered the phone at Kelly's or Borge's district office extensions Wednesday morning. Questions also continued to be asked about Assistant Superintendent Angela G. Kemp. Kemp last month was ordered to forfeit her position after being convicted of harassment in 2009, involving another District administrator. Questions about whether she remains on the district payroll have been met by silence.
My Prospective: I think the board finally did the right thing. I will have more in the next few days on Angela Kemp.
I'm Vashon and that's, "A Student's Prospective."
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