Parents, students protest Camden school district to demand adequate funding for books and supplies
Students in Camden’s public schools are without laptops, textbooks, and sometimes even paper because school funding is inadequate, said students and parents who gathered for a protest at the superintendent’s office Tuesday afternoon.
“The whole system is corrupt. Public schools don’t have enough,” chanted nearly a dozen people from New Jersey Communities United, a grassroots group that has been fighting for more money and local control of the city school district that has been under state control since 2013. Holding signs and sleeping bags — with plans to camp overnight if necessary — the group arrived about 2:30 p.m. and demanded to speak with an administrator.
They first attempted to enter the locked administration building on Cambridge Street in Cramer Hill. A security officer would not allow them inside. A Camden County Metro Police officer arrived about 75 minutes later as the group was still chanting and waiting to hear whether the district’s deputy superintendent, Katrina McCombs, would come speak with them.
The officer kept a presence, but did not prevent the group from protesting. McCombs had left to pick up her children, but the group was told she would return for an impromptu meeting. She arrived at 4:45 p.m, and met inside the building with three students and an organizer.
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