The Monday event will also address charter school expansion, the return of local control and state education funding
NEWARK — Mayor Ras Baraka will host a forum Monday to discuss the ongoing controversy over lead contamination in the city's schools and other education issues.
The forum at Central High School — where Baraka served as principal until taking office in 2014 — is open to the public and will include time for audience questions, according to a statement from the city.
Other participants will include city Chief Education Officer Lauren Wells, Abbot Leadership Institute Director Junius Williams, Newark Housing Authority Executive Director Keith Kinard and Newark Public Schools Advisory Board member Antoinette Baskerville Richardson.
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Baraka initially joined other local and state officials in calling for calm after it was revealed 30 of the city's schools had water with levels of lead exceeding the federal government's so-called "action level."
He has pivoted, however, after the state-controlled school district recently revealed the elevated levels date back to at least 2012. In an interview with NJ Advance Media last week, he called it "completely alarming" that he was never informed of possible contamination while working in city schools.
In addition to discussion about lead levels, the Monday event will cover other hot-button issues including the growth of charter schools, state funding and the anticipated return of local control over the district, according to Baraka's office.
The panel discussion will also be aired on government access television and may be live streamed on the city's website.
Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.