Council Keeps Gavel as Slate-Backed Newcomers Join Newark School Board
Newark Board of Education • Newark Public SchoolsMay 7, 2026
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Newark's Board of Education reorganized May 7, swearing in four election winners and re-electing Board President Hasani K. Council by a 9-0 vote, with no rival nominee. The board then elected Co-Vice Presidents Vereliz Santana and Helena Vinhas without dissent and approved a summer enrichment contract that had skipped committee review. Every officer seat stayed with members of the previous board, even as speeches made clear that the winning slate ran with City Hall's backing.
- 1 big thing: Council re-elected president 9-0 as he enters a third board term
- Santana and Vinhas named co-vice presidents in a single combined 9-0 vote
- Four winners sworn in, including three newcomers who ran as a slate credited to "Team Baraka"
- Summer enrichment and teacher training contract approved 9-0 without committee review, ahead of a July 1 deadline
- A lone public commenter challenged Superintendent León over a $33,000 refund that was not explained
Council Returns With All Nine Votes
Where things stand: Co-Vice President Vereliz Santana presided until the presidential vote. Board Member Louis Maisonave Jr. nominated Council, Board Member David I. Daughety seconded, and no one else was nominated.
Council then opened vice-presidential nominations. Board Member Kanileah Anderson moved to re-elect Santana, and Daughety moved to elect Vinhas. Council combined the two nominations into one roll call, and Maisonave seconded both.
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Both votes were unanimous. For: 9 (Anderson, Childs, Comesañas, Council, Daughety, Maisonave, Nivar, Santana, Vinhas). Against: 0. Absent: 0.
All three officers served on the board before this election. That gives the leadership team continuity over meeting agendas, committee formation and oversight of the superintendent, while the three newcomers learn the job.
Why it matters: Council framed his return as a mark of tenure. He called himself the senior member now that former Board President Josephine Garcia has left, and he credited Superintendent León with mentoring him in the presidency.
"I didn't run for the board to accelerate a career, to accelerate anything," said Board President Hasani K. Council. He told colleagues his phone is open.
Santana described her style in similar terms: "As you know, I am a collaborative partner. I don't dictate," said Co-Vice President Vereliz Santana.
What's next: Anderson said she looked forward to forming the board's new committees. A board retreat is planned, but no date was given.
A Slate Sweeps In, With City Hall Behind It
The basics: In the three-year-term race, Council led with 3,538 votes. Mark Comesañas followed with 2,994 and Quamid Childs with 2,988, a six-vote gap between them. Lisa A. Gray (1,605), John Farrell (1,590) and Tahid Peters (1,189) trailed. Jordy Nivar won the unexpired term with 2,192 votes, ahead of Latoya Jackson (1,700) and Tammy Holloway (734).
Childs, Comesañas, Council and Nivar each took the constitutional oath and the board-member qualifications oath, with family members on stage. They join continuing members Anderson, Daughety, Maisonave, Santana and Vinhas.
Why it matters: The acceptance speeches mapped the political machinery behind the majority. Childs named his backers directly.
"I want to thank North Ward Democratic Chairman and my campaign manager Samuel Gonzalez, Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, North Ward Councilman Aníbal Ramos, and Mayor Ras Baraka for their continued support and guidance," said Board Member Quamid Childs.
Childs also thanked Essex County Register Juan Rivera. He called Council, Comesañas and Nivar his running mates.
Council was just as explicit. "I want to thank my Team Baraka family who has worked diligently every single day to make sure that I was reelected in this position," said Council. He also thanked Chairman Sammy Gonzalez and the North Ward team.
Where things stand: City elected officials were in the room. Santana recognized City Council President Larry Crump, South Ward Councilman Patrick Council and West Ward Councilman Dupree Kelly in the audience. Nivar thanked city officials "for paving the way."
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Mayor Baraka's organization and North Ward Democrats now count a coordinated bloc on a nine-member board that oversees the city's public schools. Anderson flagged a change in the board's makeup. "The women are now outnumbered," said Board Member Kanileah Anderson. She added that members would hear "the ladies' perspective" and noted a committee might include only one woman.
What's next: Residents and advocates will want to watch whether votes on contracts, committees and superintendent oversight show the board acting independently of city political leadership.
Accountability Pledges Meet a Pointed Question
Where things stand: In their inaugural remarks, members set out benchmarks that constituents can use to measure the board. Vinhas made the sharpest commitment.
"We will definitely hold our superintendent accountable," said Co-Vice President Helena Vinhas. She acknowledged members "might not always agree" but said they share a goal of advocating for Newark's children.
Santana used Teacher Appreciation Week to argue for investment in instruction. "We know the evidence proves that having a certified, qualified teacher in the classroom is the most singular important factor as it relates to student outcomes," said Santana. She tied teacher quality to closing the achievement gap and improving attendance.
The newcomers struck personal notes. Board Member Mark Comesañas, an educator of nearly 20 years, said he would approach the role as a learner. He criticized how Newark "spend[s] a lot of time pathologizing and spreading tropes about who our Black and brown boys are in this city." Board Member Jordy Nivar, who came from the Dominican Republic in 1987, pledged to serve all wards: "All the kids I see in the streets are my babies."
Superintendent León congratulated the board and said his "entire administration is excited and poised."
The other side: The meeting's only public commenter, Yolanda Johnson, tested those pledges. She told new members, "You are beholden to the people, not to your board members, to the people."
Johnson said she "led the charge years ago" to install León over "Mr. Gregory." She then voiced disappointment directly to the superintendent: "I'm fighting a lot of battles for you, and then we got to refund $33,000," said Johnson.
No board member or staff member responded, and the refund was not explained.
What's next: Johnson said she is hearing "a lot of stuff in the community" and would say more at the next meeting.
Summer Contract Fast-Tracked; Painting Bid Scrapped
Where things stand: Council said both action items needed explanation at the dais because no committee had met. The School Business Administrator presented them.
Item 12.1 awards a contract for student enrichment services, expanded learning services and teacher professional development. The administrator said the contract supports the district's summer programs, and "because it is summer related, it needs to be in place before July 1st so that we can get started with our summer program." No vendor or dollar amount was stated aloud, and members asked no questions.
Item 12.2 rejects a bid for interior and exterior painting and epoxy flooring installation. When a board member asked "just the why," the administrator said "the original scope of work that went out needs to be modified significantly." Asked whether a new contract would return to the board, the administrator answered, "If we choose to secure painting services and epoxy services, yes, you would get new bids for that particular scope of work."
Decisions and stakeholder impacts: One roll call approved both items. For: 9. Against: 0. Absent: 0. Anderson seconded; the mover was not clearly identified.
Families relying on summer programming keep their July 1 timeline. Taxpayers, however, did not hear the vendor or the cost of the contract publicly. The facilities work is now on hold, and the administrator's "if we choose" leaves open whether it will be rebid at all.
What's next: Any rescoped painting and flooring contract would require new bids and another board vote.
Minor Items
- Reorganization package: The board approved the 10.0 reorganization action items 9-0 without discussion; their contents were not described.
- Ethics code: Members acknowledged receiving the school board code of ethics; they will sign it at the board retreat, with full training to follow.
- Coutinho remembered: Vinhas led a moment of silence for former Assemblyman Albert Coutinho, co-founder of the Ironbound Soccer Club.
- Student boxer honored: Daughety recognized Yoel Cooper, a district senior who turned pro in April; Nivar noted a local fighter's June 6 bout at the Prudential Center.
Looking Ahead
Daughety urged residents to vote May 12, in the June primaries and in November. "We have local control because of the power of the people," said Board Member David I. Daughety.