NJ Spotlight published the following article on March 4, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
AGENDA: STATE BOARD OF ED TO START TRANSITION TO NEW COMMISSIONER
JOHN MOONEY | MARCH 4, 2014
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: New Jersey Department of Education, 1st floor conference room, 100 River View Plaza, Trenton.
What they are doing: The board meets for the first time since Gov. Chris Christie’s appointment of David Hespe as the next commissioner of education, succeeding Chris Cerf. The board is not required to confirm the appointment, but it does have oversight over the agency’s senior staff and will need to shuffle some seats so Hespe can start serving as acting commissioner within the month. The board will also take up the state’s charter school regulations, which the administration is proposing to keep unchanged for the time being. In addition, public testimony is planned for the afternoon.
Hespe in, Cerf out: For Hespe to take office this month, as planned, the State Board must first approve him as an assistant commissioner; he then can then be named as acting commissioner. There is little indication the board will not oblige. Hespe is not expected to become acting commissioner until March 20, with the acting position expected to be occupied by other assistant commissioners in the meantime. Once Hespe takes office, his final confirmation will come from the state Senate.