Latest updates on Newark’s $500M no-bid school deal

Newark school officials are facing scrutiny over a potential $500 million no-bid contract to lease a new elementary school in the city's Ironbound district, with records identifying the developer as Scott Fields, a donor to Mayor Ras Baraka's failed gubernatorial campaign. While Baraka maintains that he had nothing to do with the potential deal, critics are questioning the district over potential cost and calling for more information about ownership terms. NJ Spotlight News' urban education writer Julie O'Connor broke the story and shares more. Read the full story: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2026/03/newark-mayor-denies-role-in-500m-school-deal-linked-to-donor/ Don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE for daily videos: http://bit.ly/1ERsYqw This program is made possible by viewers like you. Please support NJ Spotlight News: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/member-benefits/ Sign up for our daily newsletter: https://www.njspotlightnews.org/newsletters/ Follow NJ Spotlight News: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/njspotlightnews/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/njspotlightnews/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/njspotlightnews.org TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@njspotlightnews?_t=8VUNKN33vpu&_r=1 ----------------- While NJ PBS does not and cannot review every submission and is not responsible for the content of your comments, NJ Spotlight News reserves the right to delete, remove, move, or edit comments that it, in its sole discretion, deems abusive, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate or unacceptable for any reason.  ----------------- NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vannozzi is a nightly news program that airs weekdays on NJ PBS that covers local New Jersey news. Be sure to share with us your story ideas, feedback and tips about news in your neighborhood: https://bit.ly/32zwJDT NJ Spotlight News airs every weeknight at 6:30, 7:30 and 11 p.m. ET on NJ PBS.