Rather than leading, NJEA VP/Mayor Sean Spiller is playing a double game in Montclair’s dispute over reopening schools.  In totally predictable fashion, Spiller’s conflict of interest appears to be dictating his contradictory public positions.

On the one hand, Spiller unequivocally told the New York Times that schools should only reopen when it’s safe and that “vaccination remains the only way to guarantee safety.”  This is of course the very same position that his union, the NJEA, and the Montclair Education Association are taking, so Spiller’s stance surely sits well with them and likely emboldens them to take a hard line in negotiations.  

On the other hand, Spiller told the Montclair Patch that he would not dictate policy to the school board or MEA and that he would support their decisions “including whether or not vaccines are a prerequisite.”    This stance likely sits well (or at least better) with Montclair parents and students who want to be back in school.

Which is it, Mayor Spiller?  Do you stand by the statement you made to the New York Times?  Or are you retracting it?

As San Francisco Mayor London Breed said, requiring vaccinations would likely mean that Montclair schools will not reopen this school year.   Don’t Montclair parents and kids deserve a straight answer from their mayor?