Atlantic City Principal & Supt. Criminally Charged: What’s Next?

At this point, it’s more than fair to say that protecting allegedly abused children within the Atlantic City Public schools system has not been a priority during the La’Quetta Small era as Superintendent.

On Monday, April 15, 2024, La’Quetta Small was criminally charged by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office with the following:

LA’QUETTA SMALL - SUPERINTENDENT, ATLANTIC CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child.
3 separate counts of disorderly persons simple assault.

La’Quetta Small’s husband, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small has been criminally charged with:

MARTY SMALL - MAYOR OF ATLANTIC CITY

2nd degree endangering the welfare of a child.
3rd degree aggravated assault
3rd degree terroristic threats
disorderly persons simple assault.

Previously, the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office criminally charged:

CONSTANCE DAYS-CHAPMAN - PRINCIPAL, ATLANTIC CITY HIGH SCHOOL

second-degree Official Misconduct.
third-degree Hindering Apprehension of
Another.
fourth-degree Obstruction of Justice.
disorderly persons Failure to Report Child Abuse.

A reasonable question is … What comes next?

Days-Chapman was promptly suspended … I have been told (suspended) with full pay.

This had to be done, as Days-Chapman simply could not be permitted to remain in this educational leadership position until disposition of the many criminal charges has been resolved.

The Atlantic City Board of Education is the boss of La’Quetta Small.

They should have moved yesterday with her administrative suspension. It remains unclear if they have yet taken any action whatsoever.

La’Quetta Small cannot remain active as the Superintendent of Public Schools at this time, based upon the nature of the criminal charges that she presently faces.

The state of New Jersey has a significant role here.

Both the City of Atlantic City and Atlantic City Public Schools are under the full supervision of the state of New Jersey.

The Commissioner of Education, County Superintendent and Acting Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs must immediately step-in and right this desperately sinking ship.

Atlantic City Council also has a direct oversight role and must take appropriate action.

This has now reached a disturbing phase that has gone way beyond the usual 5 City Council Members giving Marty Small their blind support no matter what.

We have conducted a wide-ranging interview with the immediate past Atlantic City Board of Education President, John Devlin.

In a follow-up article, we will outline Devlin’s previous calls for protecting abused children within the Atlantic City Public Schools system.

We will also share Devlin’s first public comments since Marty Small, La’Quetta Small and Constance Days-Chapman have been criminally charged by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office.

Developing.

NOTE: If you missed our previous coverage regarding the criminal charges filed against Marty and La’Quetta Small, here is a direct link: