BOE-conflict of interest-Maini?
The MOL/BOE campaign has begun, with proxy poster candidates posting innuendo.
Am wondering which of the candidates asked MaTB to post this?
val said:
Why would having worked at a bank in the past be a conflict of interest?
It wouldn't be. But I'm still wondering what the first part of the post has to do with the second part anyway.
Funny. I would have thought that Maini's experience in actually running a school and dealing with parents would make her preeminently qualified to serve on the BOE.
Ms. Maini is a fabulous candidate and we'd be fortunate to have her on board!
(Edited typo
meandtheboys said:
Ms. Maini owns the South Orange Country Day School which has received money from the school district for a number of years. Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest? It seems to me it would be. I wonder what she can or can’t do as a school board member? I am hoping someone might have some insight.
I don't see the conflict. An individual member of the board can't do much of anything without the support of other members of the board.
I'm going to make a wild guess:
The South Orange Country Day pre-school recieved monies from the district to pay tuition for preschoolers who were classified (who the district is responsible for educating during their preschool years)?
However, since the new Montrose pre-school opened for this purpose, wouldn't this make this financial relationship between SOMSD and SOCD small to nothing going forward?
As her relationship with SOCD is well known, it would also seem expected that Ms. Maini would recuse herself from involvement in any budget items having to do with monies between SOMSD and SOCD, no?
I didn't know her before I watched the Hilton Neighborhood debates -- and I became very impressed upon hearing her statements and responses to the questions. I can see why she'd be perceived as a threat.
The OP's post is kind of throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. My take is that Ms. Maini's position as owner of South Orange Country Day School is neither a disqualifier nor particularly a qualifier for BOE. In the recent debate she mentioned child centered classrooms repeatedly which makes sense since her professional experience is pre-school centric . Child centered classrooms is something that gained acceptance decades ago but which has not been shown to be particularly effective for minority or low SES students in several studies.
Perhaps she might have to recuse herself on votes related to the Montrose Preschool program should she be voted on the board but I see no serious conflict of interest .
relx said:
chalmers said:So, no evidence then.
relx said:Based on reading past threads on MOL, watching the first candidates' debate, seeing which candidates enjoy mudslinging, and knowing some of the candidates personally.
chalmers said:Based on what evidence?
My guess is SOMA 2015.
Please. Where is the "evidence" for meandtheboys' accusation that SO Country Day School has received money from the school district for a number of years? It's not a court of law, it's an anonymous message board.
chalmers said:
relx said:Please. Where is the "evidence" for meandtheboys' accusation that SO Country Day School has received money from the school district for a number of years? It's not a court of law, it's an anonymous message board.
chalmers said:So, no evidence then.
relx said:Based on reading past threads on MOL, watching the first candidates' debate, seeing which candidates enjoy mudslinging, and knowing some of the candidates personally.
chalmers said:Based on what evidence?
My guess is SOMA 2015.
So your response to meandtheboys anonymous slander of one candidate is to anonymously slander other candidates.
No. I said "My guess is...." and gave a number of reasons for my guess, which you don't like and choose to ignore. Enjoy your evening.
Interesting question, meandtheboys, reasonably asked if you have concerns. Are any of the answers allaying them?
mod said:
The OP's post is kind of throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. My take is that Ms. Maini's position as owner of South Orange Country Day School is neither a disqualifier nor particularly a qualifier for BOE. In the recent debate she mentioned child centered classrooms repeatedly which makes sense since her professional experience is pre-school centric . Child centered classrooms is something that gained acceptance decades ago but which has not been shown to be particularly effective for minority or low SES students in several studies.
Perhaps she might have to recuse herself on votes related to the Montrose Preschool program should she be voted on the board but I see no serious conflict of interest .
Hmm... interesting. I interpreted her reference to a more child-centered focus as a reference to SPED programming/accommodations, and from her work as the HSA president for SOMS, I also assumed it was in support of the level choices (student-centered) of the new proposed to BOE policy.
That said, I'm not familiar with child-centered classrooms, so I'll be interested in hearing more about what meanings she did intend.
sprout said:
mod said:Hmm... interesting. I interpreted her reference to a more child-centered focus as a reference to SPED programming/accommodations, and from her work as the HSA president for SOMS, I also assumed it was in support of the level choices (student-centered) of the new proposed to BOE policy.
The OP's post is kind of throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks. My take is that Ms. Maini's position as owner of South Orange Country Day School is neither a disqualifier nor particularly a qualifier for BOE. In the recent debate she mentioned child centered classrooms repeatedly which makes sense since her professional experience is pre-school centric . Child centered classrooms is something that gained acceptance decades ago but which has not been shown to be particularly effective for minority or low SES students in several studies.
Perhaps she might have to recuse herself on votes related to the Montrose Preschool program should she be voted on the board but I see no serious conflict of interest .
That said, I'm not familiar with child-centered classrooms, so I'll be interested in hearing more about what meanings she did intend.
I wasn't exactly sure what she meant but Child Centered classroom refers to a specific way of teaching that does not involve much direct teacher driven instruction.
Here is an article written by a black educator about her experiences teaching using s child centered approach and how and why she moved away from it. It also speaks to a disparate effectiveness of these techniqueswith her white and black students.
https://eng022.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/lisa-delpit-skills-and-other-dillemmas.pdf
Understood. I think self-directed learning on its own tends to be ineffective in that it doesn't provide students with a strong foundation (if they don't already have one). On the flip side, I also think direct instruction by itself doesn't allow students the chance to really absorb the material in the way that self-extending one's learning can (but even this can be guided).
If she's referring to self-directed learning as an over-arching philosophy for the district, I can't see that gaining traction.
I plan to watch the next debates, and also to see if there is additional info put out from her on this.
MDonoghue said:
"No school official shall act in his official capacity in any matter where he or a member of his immediate family has a personal involvement that is or creates some benefit to the school official or member of his immediate family.."..... Just for some clarity here... a board member may not "act in his official capacity", which does not mean they cannot hold a position in which there might be a perceived conflict. For example, current board member Johanna Wright routinely recuses herself from board votes on union matters because (if I recall correctly) she has a daughter who is a union member. I think it would be unfortunate if anyone was led to believe that easily managed conflicts are a disqualifying factor for board service. And that goes for all current members and candidates.
Very nice stated. In other words, there is no conflict of interest.
My Daughter went to South Orange Country Day School, our experience with the school is enough to convince me to give her my vote. I'm sure almost all the parents of her students will be supporting her.
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I've been reading endorsement letters in the Village Green about all of the BOE candidates, and I recently read that Ms. Maini's "extensive background in mathematics and her years at J.P. Morgan Chase demonstrate that she has the financial savvy to navigate the complicated district budgeting process.”
But if you look at the NJ School Ethics Act http://www.state.nj.us/education/ethics/act.htm it clearly states in section:
18A:12-24. Conflicts of interest
"No school official or member of his immediate family shall have an interest in a business organization or engage in any business, transaction, or professional activity, which is in substantial conflict with the proper discharge of his duties in the public interest;"
"No school official shall act in his official capacity in any matter where he, a member of his immediate family, or a business organization in which he has an interest, has a direct or indirect financial involvement that might reasonably be expected to impair his objectivity or independence of judgment. No school official shall act in his official capacity in any matter where he or a member of his immediate family has a personal involvement that is or creates some benefit to the school official or member of his immediate family.."
Ms. Maini owns the South Orange Country Day School which has received money from the school district for a number of years. Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest? It seems to me it would be. I wonder what she can or can’t do as a school board member? I am hoping someone might have some insight.