The recent vote of no confidence against the local school superintendent, Dr. Janet Razze, produced a document that should be of interest to residents for many reasons. The release posted as a PDF file on the WEA, Wyckoff Education Association, union website offers one perspective to life inside Wyckoff schools; and, it also offers insight into how the administration of schools has changed over time.

Most parents today grew up in a time when there was less emphasis on the results of standardized tests. The trend toward standardized testing continues to spread on a national level, and experts continue to debate its effectiveness in the teaching process. Another dramatic change can be noted in how teaching philosophies, schools of thought, have been commercialized into packaged programs which school districts purchase and teachers are then handed to implement.

The no confident vote did not deal with the debate surrounding these broader issues, but focused specifically with grievances against Superintendent Razze. While there may have been informal communications that hinted at displeasure within the school system with respect to Dr. Razze’s performance, both she and members of the local school board felt the no confidence vote was inappropriate.

A lack of communication between the WEA, the board and the administration may have caused some parties to be taken aback by the no confidence vote. The WEA appeared to have no formal dialogue with the board to communicate issues of concern prior to their vote, and this will apparently impact what weight the board gives the no confidence vote. The no confidence vote is purely symbolic, but carries moral weight. Normally, dialogue between all involved parties are initiated prior to making a bold public statement that can further complicate the situation.

Click here to open up:
The 9 page PDF file of the No Confidence Vote .