Atlantic City Supt. Barry Caldwell Postpones Board Meeting

BREAKING NEWS
EXCLUSIVE

ON SAME DAY NOTICE ... BARRY CALDWELL ABRUPTLY POSTPONED TONIGHT’S BOARD OF EDUCATION - REORGANIZATION MEETING ... HE DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO DO SO

“Hurley in the Morning” has learned and confirmed that outgoing Atlantic City Superintendent of Public Schools Barry Caldwell has arbitrarily cancelled today’s Reorganization Meeting.

I have also confirmed that Caldwell did not consult with the Board of Education, or, the Board of Education president, John Devlin.

Caldwell does not have the authority to cancel a board meeting.

An attorney that has reviewed this matter has concluded that it is a violation of state law.

The only person who can cancel a Board of Education meeting is the Board President , and he has limits which center around quorum issues only.

The annual reorganization meeting is a crucial one, when the board votes for president and vice president, along with other key professional appointments.

I have obtained a copy of a series of emails (first) announcing and (subsequently) challenging today’s postponement, along with the alleged new date for the re-organization meeting.

John Devlin immediately took action to disavow Caldwell’s improper order and Devlin is attempting to reinstate the meeting for tonight.

NOTE: In a later development, the following board members will boycott tonight’s meeting:

PAT BAILEY
SHAY STEEL
RUTH BYARD
WALT JOHNSON

An additional board member is in the hospital. So, this gambit will succeed and they’re will not be a meeting tonight because a quorum will not be achieved.

Here are the back-and-forth emails as follows:

From: Angela Brown
Date: January 6, 2021 at 8:45:37 AM EST
To: Patricia Bailey , Ruth Byard , jad0744@yahoo.com, Subrata Chowdhury , Albert Herbert , Farook Hossain , 2walterjohnson@comcast.net, Walter Johnson , Shay Steele , Kazi Islam , joemico3267@gmail.com, Joseph McDevitt
Cc: Cabinet , Carole Morris , Tracy Riley , Directors , Kim Wallace
Subject: Reorganization Meeting - Postponed until January 11, 2021

Good Morning,

Please be advised the Atlantic City Board of Education Reorganization meeting scheduled for Wednesday, January 6, 2021 has been postponed and rescheduled for Monday, January 11, 2021 at 5:30pm, via Zoom. I will check to see if the same Zoom information can be used for Monday’s meeting.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Stay Safe & Stay Well
Angie

Angie Brown, Board Secretary
Atlantic City Board of Education
CitiCenter Building
1300 Atlantic Avenue – 5th Floor
Atlantic City, NJ 08401

From: jad0744@yahoo.com
Date: January 6, 2021 at 12:32:22 PM EST
To: Angela Brown , Barry Caldwell
Subject: Re: Reorganization Meeting - Postponed until January 11, 2021

Hello All- I’m available, this has blindsided me. Any info would be forthcoming; however the law clearly states I’m still the board president and I’m the only one that can cancel a board meeting. This violates state state laws and statues. Until I see something in writing- this meeting is still on.

Angie- please advise the rest of the board that the meeting in still in session for 6pm tonight. Your the board secretary, it’s my decision and the law states we need to reorganize by the 7th-

Thank you,

John A Devlin
Board President

From: Angela Brown
Date: January 6, 2021 at 12:22:57 PM EST
To: Barry Caldwell , jad0744@yahoo.com
Cc: Tracy Riley , Carole Morris
Subject: FW: Reorganization Meeting - Postponed until January 11, 2021

Hello Barry and John,

I would be remised if I did not explain to you that I feel very conflicted and confused. Please believe I am not being disrespectful to either one of you. I reached out to NJSBA Field Service representative Mrs. Jane Kershner and she suggested that Mr. Caldwell and Mr. Devlin discuss this matter. I am prepared to participate in Reorganization meeting on either date.

Barry - Please see the below email from Mr. Devlin instructing me NOT to cancel tonight’s meeting.
John - I have been instructed by Superintendent Caldwell to reschedule to meeting until Monday, January 11th at 5:30pm.

I very much appreciate your understanding.

Thank you,
Angie

Angie- by law the board president is the only authority who can change a re organization meeting. Please retract this email, and make the board aware that the meeting is still on. In the future please contact the board president prior to changing meeting dates and times.

Thank you,

John Devlin
Board President