Schundler released his chronology of events today — Read the documents
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Former education chief Bret Schundler at his home in Jersey City Friday, Aug. 27, 2010 .TRENTON — In another salvo of who said what following the state’s failed Race to the Top application, former education commissioner Bret Schundler released a chronology of the events he believes led to his firing, saying that he is not a liar as the governor has claimed.
Last Friday, Gov. Chris Christie fired Shundler, alleging the former education commissioner misled him about whether the Department of Education attempted to provide correct budget information during an in-person presentation of the state’s Race to the Top application. Because the state did not provide information about its education spending in 2008 compared to 2009, reviewers docked the state 4.8 costly points in a competition it lost by three points.
In the chronology, Schundler says he accepts the governor’s right to fire commissioners with or without cause and he accepts responsibility for editing the error that contributed to New Jersey’s loss in the $400 million grant.
“I could accept being fired for that. But I will not accept being defamed by the Governor for something he knows I did not do,” Schundler wrote in the chronology. “The Governor called me a liar this week. That was the last straw. I have no choice now but to defend my name through this chronology of facts and the attached evidence.”
Schundler’s evidence includes e-mail correspondence between himself, the governor’s chief of staff and top officials in the governor’s communications office along with drafts of the letter he sent to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan explaining the fateful error and requesting additional Race to the Top funding he believed the state deserved.
Previous coverage:
• Gov. Chris Christie says it's 'time to move on' from Race to the Top error
• Fired N.J. education chief Bret Schundler says he made 'Race to the Top' error
• Future of N.J. school reform remains uncertain without federal funds, permanent education chief
• Tom Moran: Christie faces ugly political ramifications of 'Race to the Top' error, Schundler firing
• Schundler requested firing instead of resignation so he can collect unemployment
• Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler
Related videos:
| Bret Schundler comments on firing as education commissioner |
| Audio of Gov. Christie's remarks regarding 'Race to the Top' |
