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Paterson schools superintendent Eileen Shafer announces retirement | Paterson Times

Paterson schools superintendent Eileen Shafer announces retirement

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Superintendent Eileen Shafer is retiring at the end of the current academic year, she announced on Wednesday evening.

Shafer became superintendent in 2017 after the retirement of Donnie Evans. The school board later appointed her as superintendent. She told school board members she would retire at the end of June 2022.

“Those aren’t easy words to say. I had many sleepless nights,” said Shafer. She has been employed by the school district for three decades.

Under Shafer’s watch the district’s graduation rate dropped two years in a row and standardized test scores remained stagnant for much of her tenure.

Shafer cited regaining local control, striking a new contract with teachers, running an expanded lunch program during Covid-19 pandemic, and equipping all students with laptops as major accomplishments.

“You’ve been the best superintendent especially during this time,” said school board Oshin Castillo citing Shafer’s work during the pandemic.

For months, the school board was split between extending Shafer’s contract or hiring a new superintendent. One group wanted to keep her for another year and another group wanted to begin the search process to hire a new superintendent.

Shafer’s decision came after the group that wanted to hire a new superintendent gained the upper hand.

“Circumstances around your decision are an embarrassment to the city and an embarrassment to the Board of Education,” said longtime school board member Jonathan Hodges. “There’s been a lot of trash that has been going on behind closed doors.”

“It’s a shame and it’s a disgrace,” said Hodges. He slammed his colleagues for behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

Hodges said some of his colleagues are planning to put in charge a new superintendent who will likely put politics ahead of students’ education. Officials have said former school board member Christopher Irving, who was nearly fired from his Teaneck superintendent job earlier in the year, is seeking to become the Paterson schools superintendent.

“There was some wrong on each side,” said school board member Corey Teague. “There were some things that were slightly unethical.”

Teague had been with the group that wanted to keep Shafer and delay the search process. But he changed sides at the last minute, according to sources.

Shafer claimed the district’s top job through a “rigged” process brokered by political actors. She was consumed by the same process that forced her to announce her retirement.

Updated 11:03 p.m.

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  • Leo Sanchez

    Paid time $$$$$$

    • HankMorgan

      She’s been making sure she and her cronies get extravagantly paid since being placed in her position.

  • HankMorgan

    The article states that “Shafer claimed the district’s top job through a “rigged” process brokered by political actors. She was consumed by the same process that forced her to announce her retirement.”

    I believe that’s true but the author must provide specific examples to support this assertion. In fact, this could lead to an important and overdue investigation that would undoubtedly expose the corruption that has gripped the Paterson Public Schools for decades.

    Also Paterson Times completely ignored the story two weeks ago about the former Rosa Parks student who is suing the district for $50 million for being sexually assaulted on campus over a number of years by a security guard. I wonder how much this suit factored into her decision to quit.

  • MarquinhoGaucho

    They weren't going to renew her especially after she committed the worst sin of actually pointed out the charters are the cause of the Patersons fiscal crisis . Another 9.7% increase thats like almost 40% in 4 years. None of that will go to PPS only the Charters which is in the BOE's pocket and they will get their taste in the form of "contributions"

    • HankMorgan

      You’ve maintained for years that Shafer’s mission was to deliberately disable and bankrupt Paterson schools in order to justify the opening of charters. It’s more than a little disingenuous to claim that she was squeezed out because she now claims charter schools are the cause of the district’s difficulties.

      • MarquinhoGaucho

        Its true at first she had chutzpah and then caved in to the charter lobby's pressure. They dont forget nor forgive , (unless you are Manny Martinez sexually harassing someone)…I think the 28 million she left in Trenton was by design too to exacerbate Paterson's fiscal woos and make more cuts to PPS while the charters get fatter

  • TK Kirkland

    So long you flat-wide-butt jhooo…Good riddens!

    • HankMorgan

      Wicked smart, insightful and classy, as usual. Thanks for playing!

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