STANFIELD, UMBA CELEBRATE RETURN OF IN-PERSON STATE BOARD OF ED MEETINGS

TRENTON – Senator Jean Stanfield and Assemblyman Brandon Umba have publicly called on the State Board of Education to return to in-person meetings for months. They finally got their wish, yesterday.

The 8^th District legislators introduced bills to force the State Board of Education to meet in public (S3299), as well as require the Department of Education Commissioner to attend the meetings (A4998) – something Acting Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan has not done recently.

“It was a wonderful sight seeing the Department of Education Acting Commissioner sitting together with the State Board of Education while members of the public were allowed to be in attendance and make their voices heard. This is how Democracy works – in the light of day; not covered in darkness,” Stanfield said.

Stanfield and Umba introduced legislation to require the in-person public meetings in November, quickly getting support from both sides of the aisle with a host of legislators signing on.

“This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is a small-d democracy issue. The State Board of Education, along with every other public board, cannot continue to hide behind COVID as an excuse to avoid public scrutiny,” Umba said.

“I’m pleased to see that the will of the people and the public pressure we applied paid off. I only hope that the State Board of Ed stays on course and continues to meet in person,” he continued.