newjerseynewsroom.com

BY SHARON HARRIS-ZLOTNICK

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

When does a personal connection become a professional conflict? New Jersey's Acting Education Commissioner Christopher D. Cerf, 56, may confront that very question during his upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearings. If confirmed, Cerf’s annual salary will be $141,000.

In December 2010, Governor Chris Christie nominated Cerf for the position as a replacement for Bret D. Schundler, the former commissioner whom Christie fired in August 2010. The termination followed New Jersey’s forfeiture of $400 million in federal education aid, due in part to a technical error.

Prior to these events, Cerf and Sangari Global Education President Rajeev Bajaj had incorporated the Global Education Advisors consulting firm in May 2010. The new company used Cerf’s Montclair address for their state registration. In December 2010, Newark Mayor Cory Booker hired the group, directing them to audit the city’s public schools and offer recommendations.

For Newark city schools, the firm has developed a controversial restructuring plan. They intend to open 11 charter schools throughout Newark while also closing some public schools and relocating thousands of students to other buildings.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Senator Nicholas Scutari (D-Union) questions Cerf’s initial involvement with Global Education Advisors. Senator Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) also requests a comprehensive examination of the situation, asking how this new company suddenly emerged “as a major player in the Newark schools system.”

Yahoo! Groups states that Cerf asked The Star-Ledger not to publish this story, citing its unimportance. According to The Star-Ledger and NJ.com reporters David Giambusso and Jessica Calefati, Cerf was working in the private sector at the time the firm was established. He claims he immediately relinquished all business and personal connections, except for the use of his New Jersey address.

Private donations paid the Global Education Advisors’ fees. Neither Booker nor Cerf has provided any compensation figures, but Cerf says he has never done any work or been paid for any services.

Not every committee member sees an impropriety. Senator Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) dismissed the issue since Cerf received no compensation, nor did he benefit financially from the contract.

Cerf is no stranger to controversy during his almost 20 year career as a nationally-recognized school administrator. On December 17, 2010, New York Times reporter Winnie Hu stated that during his 2006 to 2009 tenure in New York City, Cerf pushed unconventional programs through the school system. As deputy schools chancellor, Cerf was a close ally of Chancellor Joel I. Klein.

Hu reported that New York City teachers’ union president Randi Weingarten, also president of the American Federation of Teachers, admitted that while she and Cerf often disagreed, they did reach consensus on some issues.

The Global Education Plan for Newark was announced at a public meeting last night. Parents and community members packed the auditorium of the 15th Avenue School-one of the schools slated for consolidation. Newark educational leaders objected, claiming insufficient time to offer their input and review the proposal. Cerf responded that the school advisory board would have a month to make its own recommendations.