HCST students deserve better
As a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hudson County Schools of Technology for nearly 10 years, I witnessed first-hand what can be accomplished when we properly manage and invest in our public schools, and what can happen when we allow them to be negatively impacted by politics.
Under the visionary leadership of former Superintendent Frank Gargiulo, HCST flourished and became one of the most highly regarded county vocational districts in the entire state. Beyond running two excellent and academically rigorous high school programs, Superintendent Gargiulo ensured that HCST provided exemplary services to the community through the district’s renowned alternative schools for at-risk youth, adult high school and other programs designed to help Hudson County residents succeed. The district was recognized with many prestigious awards and was universally known as a place where students would receive a truly excellent education.
Unfortunately, that formerly sterling reputation has now been tarnished not only by scandals involving school district leadership, but by a reduction in important programs and in reduced academic performance.
Services that made a positive impact on the community like KAS Prep, Career Academy and the Adult High School were discontinued, leaving vulnerable residents with fewer educational options. Even the district’s flagship schools have suffered — case in point, High Tech High School was ranked as the No. 12 public high school in America in 2015 under Superintendent Gargiulo’s leadership, and this year was ranked No. 387 by Niche.
Our students clearly deserve better than this. But instead of investing in the kinds of programs that flourished in the past, the district’s current leadership at the county level is more interested in settling scores and playing politics.
This lack of quality leadership has created a dark cloud in the district that is negatively impacting employee morale and performance, which then hurts students.
It’s time for a qualified, visionary new superintendent to put HCST back on the right path by showing the kind of dedication to quality education and community service that Frank Gargiulo always lived by, but with the current leadership situation on the board and at the county, I am not hopeful that this will be the case.
Hugo Cabrera, North Bergen, Township Commissioner
Letter writer will be missed
This writer is very saddened to see our Jersey Journal cease its print form this February 2025. And with it, so many fond memories in its 156-year history go along with it.
Hudson County and Jersey City are no ordinary places, their politics speak volumes and their place in history will never be denied. In its prime The Jersey Journal was the voice of the people of Hudson County and footprint of our collective memory.
But most important I’d like to acknowledge a writer who for some 50+ years has given us a broad prospective of life in Jersey City and news of the day that affected all of us. That person is prolific letters to the editor writer John Di Genio of Jersey City, who, without a doubt, wrote eventful and knowledgeable articles that were well thought out and informed the people of his thoughts and ideas without any fanfare. The editorial section of the paper printed hundreds of his letters because of John’s keen insight into every article he wrote. I also had the honor to co-write many of these articles; it was an honor to be a co-pilot and express our views — some controversial and many the readers would agree on.
So, in closing, I’d like to publicly thank John and bid The Jersey Journal a fond adieu. I’m so proud of being part of the grand history of this newspaper.
Albert J Cupo, Jersey City
Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.
