It was a well-choreographed announcement featuring prepared remarks by Superintendent Cami Anderson and a hand-picked list of supporters from the philanthropic, religious, political and other groups. All gathered for the unveiling of a radical reworking of Newark’s school system.

“I just wanna remind us that our goal is to ensure that every single student in Newark graduates high school with the social, emotional and academic skills to access the college or career of their choice,” said Anderson.

After weeks of meeting with parents and teachers and others, Anderson said today only three schools will be closing — MLK, 18th Avenue and Burnett — not the seven that had been originally reported. She said the plan emphasizes expanding early education programs, creates a high school task force to focus on graduation rates and creates eight so-called “renew schools,” which will be home to students from the closed and consolidated schools.

Among the dozen or so speakers was Pastor David Jefferson of Metropolitan Baptist Church, who says the changes announced today are a long time coming and not a moment to soon.

Said Jefferson, “I am confident that this is an incredible moment of truth and revelation where we all will look back and say this was a turning point in the city of Newark and the educational system.”

The teachers’ union is still opposed to the plan and says Anderson should not assume cooperation. But with the support of the mayor and the governor and most of Newark’s political establishment, the superintendent now has a green light to remake this system. Those changes begin in earnest in September.

NJToday’s David Cruz was in Newark today for the announcement of what school officials are calling an expansion of school options.

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