Gallon Suspended!

Dr. Steve Gallon, Superintendent of the Plainfield Public Schools has been SUSPENDED.


Dr. Gallon, Assistant Superintendent of Education Services Angela Kemp, and recently terminated Lalelei Kelly were arrested Tuesday. All three were charged with stealing more than $10,000 in Educational Services from neighboring South Plainfield by providing false documents to send a pair of Perth Amboy children to school there. Gallon, was charged with conspring to commit theft by deception, theft by deception as an accomplice and false swearing; Kemp and Kelly were charged with uttering false documents, theft by deception, conspiracy to commit theft by deception and false swearing.

This isn't the first time we have seen Gallon and his gal pals in the media. Gallon, hiring unqualified friends to work in six-figure high qualitfied jobs. Kemp, found guilty of harrasment to Dr. Philip Williamson, Bilingual/ESL Vice Principal in 2009 during an Administrator's staff meeting. Kemp was ordered on March 23 to forfeit her public office immediately. Kelly, unqualified administrator who has been on WNYW Fox 5's Shame segment 3 times.


My Prospective: I think the BOE did a good job, taking action against Gallon. However, Govenor Chris Christie has said, "He wants him to be punished more, for his actions." Since, Dr. Gallon is suspended the BOE has to appoint an Interim Superintendent. Who will it be? Someone from in District? We will see.

I'm Vashon and that's, "A Student's Prospective."


"Today's Youth becoming, Tomorrow's Leader's"
Jefferson School Leadership Project

CONGRATS TO LOGAN-LEACH

Welcome BACK!! Can, you believe it's May. I am READY!!!!!!!!!! for the Summer.

I would like to give a Congratulations to Mrs. Lisa C. Logan-Leach. On, May 4th, at the Re-Organization Meeting, she was voted in as President of the Plainfield Board of Education. Mrs. Logan-Leach has been an active Member of the BOE for several years now, and she is EXACTLY what Plainfield needs at this time.

My Prospective: I am VERY excited, to see Mrs. Logan-Leach as President. I think the staff, students, and stalkholders of PPS will benefit a great deal from her Presidency. So, I say CONGRATULATIONS to you, and I hope to see more as the 2010-2011 School year comes.

I'm Vashon and that's, "A Student's Prospective."

"Today's Youth becoming Tomorrow's Leader's"

Jefferson School Leadership Project

Administrators are reportedly fired

Hello. Welcome Back! Spring has sprung, and there's ALOT that has sprung in Plainfield. Let's Get to it!



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."


"Today's Youth becoming tomorrow's Leaders"
Jefferson School Leadership Project

Shame, Shame, Shame?

Hello. Welcome Back! I hope you all are enjoying the Month of February.



The Plainfield Public Schools were featured on WNYW Fox 5's Shame, Shame, Shame segment. Investigative Reporter Arnold Diaz, made a surprise visit to the Board Of Education Administration Building [1200 Myrtle Avenue] to cover an contiuning controversy regarding Plainfield Public Schools staff. This controversy was first reported last year when it came to light that two high ranking district administrators, Lesly Borge, Coordinator of Special Projects and District Affairs and Lalelei Kelly, Coordinator of Strategic Planning. These two woman have lack of New Jersey Certification and do not meet the requirements to be in there department.



WE WANT ANSWERS!: The residents of Plainfield want answers. Why are these two woman making 6 figure saleries and DO NOT have the right qualifications to be in their position? These are all questions from furious residents. As, Arnold Diaz pointed out- Union County Superintendent advised Dr. Steve Gallon III to place Borge and Kelly in teaching positions due to lack of Certification. But Gallon, rewrote the qualifications and gave the two woman different titles, they both now report to Gallon.

My Prospective: Remove these woman from their positions and place them both in teaching positions. As, Board Member Lisa Logan-Leach stated, "We cannot afford to have unqualified administrators in high paying jobs." What ever happened to hiring and promoting within? This would make things alot smoother and alot different. Due to this, Students are leaving Plainfield for Private and Charter schools. Parents, put their trust into the Board of Education and the Top-Administrators, they have failed to comply with the parents and their trust.

I'm Vashon and thats, "A Students Prospective"

• You can attend Business Meeting on February 16th at the Administration Building [1200 Myrtle Ave.]
• Let your VOICES be heard.

"Today's Youth becoming tomorrow's Leaders"

Jefferson School Leadership Project

What is the Jefferson School Leadership Project?

Hey! Welcome Back.

As, I have stated in my first post; I am the president of the Jefferson School Leadership Project. This program benefits the students of the Plainfield Public Schools. We as a group with the parents, students, administration, and staff of Jefferson. We plan events, fundraisers, and workshops; these items institute a fun and entertaining way for the students in K-6. To the Board of Education we DO NOT exist. Well, I wonder how is that possible. About, 75% of what goes on in Jefferson, JSLP is responsible. Our Student Leaders commit their time year-round. As, I took office in August of JSLP, I started a mentoring program; this program is for the students who want to be Leaders. They can pick their Mentor (Veteran Leaders) and the veteran leaders train them on how to work a station, how to speak to an administrator, and how to be a positive Leader. JSLP is a fantastic program that want's the best for Plainfield's future.

LACK OF SUPPORT: To do something for a school, you have to go to the Administration. As, we did many times; we recieved NO support at all. This comes as a disappointment to the students of Jefferson. Right, now we have discontinued the Leadership Project; due to Administration issues and lack of support.

In my Next Blog- Drama in the Schools? Is this positive for the students of Plainfield?

I'm Vashon- and that's "A Student's Prospective"

"Today's Youth, becoming tomorrow's Leaders
Jefferson School Leadership Project

Introduction: First Blog

Hello! Welcome to "Plainfield: A Student's Prospective."

Let, me start off by introducing myself. My name is Vashon, I am a high-school sophomore at Union Catholic High School. I recently went to Hubbard Middle School, Class of 2008. I was Vice-President of class. I was also Hubbard's First Student Ambassador. I also attended Jefferson School, in which I was Secretary of my class. I am involved with alot of Activities in Plainfield Schools (Even though I dont attend any of the Plainfield Schools). I am the President of the Jefferson School Leadership, in which I work with other students who attend Plainfied Schools. As President, I oversee meetings, I sign off on letters, and I work with the students in grades K-6 and the staff.

Some people would say "Why do you care about PPS and what's going on?" I care because I have to hear it from the students in the schools. I care about all of them and I want to see a big difference from PPS. These students are our future and they are what depends RIGHT NOW!

My suggestion would be to hold a student meeting and discuss what are some things they would like to see changed in the district.

I'm Vashon and this is "A Student;s Prospective."

"Today's Youth, becoming tomorrow's Leaders"
Jefferson School Leadership Project