"Hurley in the Morning"

 THE ATLANTIC CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

 OPPS, THEY DID IT AGAIN!

 SARA LEVINSON

 A POLITICAL PAWN

 By HARRY HURLEY

 Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Not since the deeply troubling Craig Callaway era has such an obviously poor decision been made by the Atlantic City Board of Education.

Hopefully, there will be one last gasp chance to get this right.

When have you ever heard of an over qualified candidate be treated in such a shabby, unprofessional manner?

The answer is now ... with the Atlantic City Board of Education, three members which yesterday demonstrated an absolute disregard for their oath of office, and, lacking any sense of professionalism for the public position they hold.

At this deeply disturbing point, it is clear that Sara Levinson is a "Political Pawn," in a dirty political game not of her choosing.  

Sara Levinson is a uniquely qualified candidate for a math teaching position within the Sovereign Avenue School.

Sara had two school principals lobbying hard for her professional services. Sara was recommended by two different principals ... she was recommended by Board Member John Devlin's Personnel Committee, which he chairs. Sara Levinson was ultimately recommended by Superintendent Fred Nickles to be hired.

This is one of the most routine tasks that a School Board Member discharges. There's nothing to it. It's no-brainer stuff. When a qualified candidate is presented to you by your administration, you vote for the candidate to be hired.

Not in Atlantic City. Not these days.

Let me give you a little background about Sara Levinson.

She had a distinguished college career. She amassed two different certifications. It's hard to eanr one. She earned a perfect 4.0 Grade Point Average and was Dean's List in each and every semester. Sara also passed the difficult math certification test, which is now required. There are many certified teachers right now who would fail this test.

Sara also just happens to be the daughter of Denny and Pat Levinson. Don't lose sight of this. Because this is what has created the present controversy.

Usually it would be a real positive to be the County Executive's daughter. Not this time. Not with this Board of Education. 

The first time, the phonies acted like they didn't know who Sara Levinson was. No such excuse was available for them to employ this time.

Not only do they know who Sara Levinson is ... they had a very heated exchange in Executive Session before last night's vote.

For the record, and to their credit, Board Vice President George Crouch, John Devlin and Nynel Langford all voted for Sara Levinson to be hired last night. But, only 6 of the 9 Board Members from Atlantic City attended last night's Special Meeting. Board President Shea Steele had recent back surgery, he legitimately couldn't be there.

There's a very good chance that Sara Levinson would have gotten the other two member's votes (Kirk Dooley) for sure had they been there last night. This would have given Sara the bare minimum 5 votes that she needed to be hired.

At this point, I am urging Fred Nickles not to back down ... to do the right thing ... to place Sara Levinson's qualified candidacy before the Board of Education one last time at their next meeting on August 24th.

Hopefully, the full Board will attend and give appropriate consideration to this highly qualified and deserving candidate based solely on the facts and her merit.

I am very concerned at this point that a massive lawsuit could follow. It would be a slam dunk case against the Atlantic City Board of Education. Sara Levinson is a talented candidate, who surely would have been hired in another school district for the upcoming school year.

The potential damages to the taxpayers of Atlantic City are both in the form of punitive and compensatory damages.  

Also, I was informed last night that Nynel Langford attempted to reverse her vote from the last meeting. This alone would have carried the day for Sara Levinson. I can't even grasp the issue here. She is permitted to change her vote. But, they didn't allow it.

As it has been reported to me, one fellow board member voted against Langford's request to change her vote last night. To which, I say, so what. It's Langford's vote. She has the legal right to clarify a vote, or, in this case, to change her vote.

The Board Solicitor in my view has also blown this whole thing. Langford should simply have been afforded the opportunity to change her vote and the item to approve Sara Levinson would have already passed.

The 3 Board Members who voted against Sara Levinson last night should be ashamed of themselves. Their names have been shared with me, but, I can't recall who they are. ut, they were angry in Executive Session. Why? What are the angry about? They had before them one of the most qualified candidates a Board Member will ever have the chance to vote for tin the careers.  

I'll guarantee you this ... that not one of these three board members (who voted against Sara Levinson) has a double certification, 4.0 GPA, Dean's List perfect record and holds the math certification that Sara Levinson possesses. 

This is a pubic disgrace and embarrassment to the City.

I'll tell you this ... If I'm Denny, Pat and Sara Levinson this morning ... I'm waiting for Ed Jacobs to arrive to his office this morning.

This could turn out to be a very expensive lesson for the taxpayers of Atlantic City. From what I have learned, Sara Levinson could have been hired in numerous other school districts around our region.

She uniquely wanted to serve the student population in Atlantic City and give back in a profound way. She feels blessed to have lived the life that has been afforded to her and she wanted to sincerely "pay it forward." If this is not righted ... what a loss this will be to the Atlantic City Public Schools system.

You may have one more chance to get this one right. If you mess it up, again ... you will be responsible for the consequences, which will be potentially expensively ... and, certainly you've already significantly embarrassed yourselves and the Board of Education in Atlantic City.