NEWARK – Former American Idol contestant Fantasia Barrino helped rally education support at the "Old School for New School Choice" concert June 26 in Washington Park.
With a turnout of about 1,500 people, Excellent Education for Everyone(E3) hoped to educate the community and garner support for Opportunity Scholarship Act S1875 through the Celebs for School Choice campaign.
"There are parents who don't know about Newark's schools beyond the public schools," said E3 Activities Coordinator Dana Rone. "We're talking about schools who have failed for up to 10 years. There are 800 schools affecting 20,000 students statewide."
E3 members held a rally in Trenton earlier this month where Rev. Reginald Jackson, of Orange's St. Matthew's Baptist Church, and State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Elizabeth) were among its speakers.
Lesniak and Sen. Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-Westfield) introduced OSA S1872 May 10. The bill would establish a tuition scholarship fund for private entities and qualified parents or legal guardians of school-aged children.
Scholarship recipients apply to a public, private or parochial school of their choice and the student would then be transferring out of a low-performing school. The private contributors, for their part, would receive a charitable tax deduction.
Rone is hoping that S1875 will be considered by state legislators during the July 1 special summer session called by Gov. Christopher Christie.
A handful of protestors to the Act were present across Washington Street and handed out materials on the NAACP Newark Chapter's opposition to OSA.
"There were five Newark police officers at the park but everyone was peaceful and they learned about schools," said Rone about the event's turnout.
Food vendors, inflatables and a face painting table could be found along the park's Broad Street side.
Barrino, who released a new album with J. Records June 25, headlined a concert which also included performances from Hot 97 FM's DJ Enuff, Kurtis Blow, Spoonie Gee, Erick Sermon, Lords of the Underground, Charlie Clips, Drag-on, Tia Holt, Vic Perez and Architects+Demolition Men.
Rone, a former Newark Public Schools Board of Education and City Council member, praised Barrino's contribution.
"Fantasia just received a diploma from a Charlotte (N.C.) School," said Rone. "She's an example on what OSA's about. She dropped out of school because she didn't have a choice."
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