Advisory Board Candidates Forum Wednesday

Read this article as it originally appeared March 28, 2012 in Newark Patch.

The 10 candidates vying for three open spots on the Newark Advisory Board will take questions Wednesday night at the Newark Trust for Education's Committee of Advocates forum at Essex County College.

The forum, which is open to the public and will start at 6 p.m. in the Smith Lecture Hall, will be broadcasted on Cablevision Channel 77 and 19 (see schedule below) and available for live viewing on the Trust's Livestream page, new.livestream.com/newarktrust, where it will also be archived.

"We know that people may not be able to make the forum, but we wanted to be sure as many people as possible had an opportunity to hear what the candidates had to say about education in Newark," said Ross Danis, the executive director of the Trust, in a statement.

The forum will be moderated by former board member Richard Cammarieri. School elections are on April 17 and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The Trust has created and distributed the "2012 Newark Education Policies and Issues," an 11-page white paper regarding 10 pertinent issues facing the Newark school district. The document, available on the Trust's website, provides clear explanations of the issues for candidates and residents.

"To the best of our ability and knowledge, we have avoided language that advocates, recommends, or suggests that one perspective or idea is more valuable than another," Danis said. "Over time, this will expand to include additional topics and information."

Newark Trust of Education, created in 2011, is an independent, nonprofit education fund that works with school officials and the community to improve education in Newark. The Committee of Advocates, created more than 15 years ago, is a program under Newark Trust of Education which helps inform and engage the community about school issues.

The candidates forum will air on Cablevision channel 77 at the following dates and times:

• Wednesday, April 4, 8 p.m.
• Friday, April 6, 9 p.m.
• Saturday, April 7, 11 a.m.
• Sunday, April 8, 5 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 10, 9 p.m.
• Thursday, April 12, 9 p.m.
• Friday, April 13, 8 p.m.
• Saturday, April 14, 11 a.m.
• Sunday, April 15, 5 p.m.
• Monday, April 16, 2 p.m.

– Staff reports