The leadership of the NJEA thinks that "Teaching is Political," and the leadership of the Wayne Education Association (WEA) wants to help their cause. Two days ago, BOE candidates Jacob Van Lunen, Suzanne Pudup, and Stacey Scher filed an amended joint report of campaign contributions and expenditures.

One part of the report was shocking. It appears that their entire campaign is being funded by the state and local teachers' unions. There are no contributions from anybody who lives in Wayne.

Schedule 1 of the report discloses $30,600.00 in campaign contributions. they are as follows:

• $5,500.00 from the "CAE" (Committee for Academic Excellence established by the Wayne Education Association -- WEA)
• $8,200.00 from the NJEA (originally listed as a donation to Jacob Van Lunen)
• $8,200.00 from the NJEA (originally listed as a donation to Suzanne Pudup)
• $8,200.00 from the NJEA (originally omitted from the first report but thought to represent a donation to Stacey Scher)
• The total amount also included what appears to be a $500.00 donation from Ms. Pudup. However, there was also a disbursement to Ms. Pudup of $2,969.86 as reimbursement for business cards and flyers, so it is unclear whether the original $500.00 from Ms. Pudup was a donation or a loan to the campaign.

These contributions are the only ones listed on the UNITED for WAYNE BOE report. In other words, not one dime came from anyone in Wayne -- no parents, no neighbors in Wayne. Moreover, this $36,600 was only the beginning.

At least four full-color mailers have been sent to voters in Wayne by an independent expenditure front group for the NJEA called "Garden State Forward." It is estimated that each mailer costs about $8,000.00 to print and mail.  The return address on the flyers is the same as NJEA headquarters in Trenton.

Page 4 of 7 of the UNITED FOR WAYNE BOE report. No contributions came from anyone in Wayne.

The NJEA's enormous investment in a single suburban town is unprecedented.  The NJEA is considered one of the strongest and most effective lobbyists in Trenton. Meanwhile, the pro-parent candidates Ryan Battershill and Barbara Rigogloso are spending only a small fraction of the money being laid out by the Trenton powerhouse.

The Battershill and Rigoglioso "Children First" campaign appears to be running the old-fashioned way, by meeting as many Wayne residents as possible and letting them know what is at stake in the BOE election.

The Children First team's biggest fundraiser was a $15.00 Sunday morning pancake breakfast celebrating Halloween. Many parents and their children dressed up in costume for the event. 

 The children came first, even at a fundraiser.

An additional question is raised by the UNITED FOR WAYNE BOE campaign report. It involves the WEA's $5,500.00 contribution. Evidently, the WEA made the contribution from "551 Valley Road, Wayne NJ 07470." That is Wayne Valley High School. The district has a firm policy that forbids electoral activity on school property.

Moreover, the Election Law Enforcement Manual states: "[N]o candidate or office holder, or agent or representative thereof, may solicit campaign contributions, directly or indirectly, on property owned the . . . board of education of a school district."