Mom Condo Living

In my second month as a new mom over 35, I had my six-week postpartum visit and am starting to see classic sibling roles emerge with my kids. Article at http://metromoms.net/2012/05/18/motherhood-over-35-month-two/

The weather is supposed to be sunny and in the 70s this weekend, hope everyone gets outside and has a great time!

Kathy

Nothing in life ever works out the way I expect. My kids’ education is no exception.

When I enroll my kids in a school, I want them to be happy and make progress. My daughter doesn’t need to come home with the first draft of her dissertation, but if she is meeting the curriculum goals and is engaged by the material, that works for us.

Because I never know how life is going to work out, I always have a backup plan. My oldest child entered school for the first time last year. I had no idea what sort of student she would be or what kinds of teaching would be the best fit for her. My husband and I enrolled her in the free Abbott preschool program in Hoboken because we knew a lot of people were happy with it.

We realized after a month that the overwhelming majority of kids enter the program in pre-K3 and many of them come from a daycare setting. For my daughter, entering at age four after being home with me and her brother, it was not a good fit. We switched her to preschool at Hoboken Catholic Academy (HCA). She will be entering first grade there next fall, and her brother will be attending pre-K4.

I did not plan on sending my kids to private school, but since they are thriving at HCA and pickup/dropoff is SO easy, there is no reason to remove them. We have also been pleasantly surprised by the quality of education; Hoboken Catholic was recently ranked in the top 200 east coast elementary schools by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission on Elementary Schools. The tuition is manageable and I can deduct my son’s preschool costs. I also like the size of the school; with three kindergarten classes there is enough shuffling each year that my daughter gets a chance to reinvent herself with new friends.

Enrollment has been booming at both HCA and the Mustard Seed School, another Hoboken private school; both schools are adding on a first grade class because almost all the kindergarteners are returning next year, with expansion plans for the upper grades. Another private school that we considered is Primary Prep in Jersey City, which has strong drama, arts and language programs.

What are my backup plans in case of job loss or a change in our family circumstances? The Hoboken charter and public schools. Last year, we applied to one charter, Elysian, because we talked to other parents and thought it would be a good fit for our kids. We also like Wallace; I toured it a while ago and was strongly reminded of P.S. 102, my Brooklyn elementary school.

You can view a complete listing of Hoboken schools at GreatSchools.org, along with test scores for the public and charter options. One thing to keep in mind is that special needs students also take standardized tests, which generally lowers the school average. You can view the special needs percentage at each school’s “Test Scores and Stats” tab; click the “NJ ASK By Subgroup” link. Viewing the Wallace subgroups, grade 4 has 58% special education and 80% economically disadvantaged students.

Once your kid turns five, there are some great fall recreational activities available through the City of Hoboken. Registration is now open for co-ed soccer (ages 5-16) and football (ages 6-8). My older daughter participated in soccer last fall and enjoyed playing in the large, well-organized league.

Each session costs $25, payable via Visa or Mastercard at  www.hobokennj.org/register. You have to register for CommunityPass before being able to sign up for classes, with priority given to Hoboken residents. Please call (201) 420-2207 if you need further information.

Fall Activities for Ages 5 & Up

Soccer (Ages 5-16) Boys and Girls
Weekend soccer games take place at the newly turfed Mama Johnson Field at 4th & Jackson Streets in Hoboken. Forgot to pack gatorade? Grab some at Big Banner Plaza Supermarket right across Jackson Street!

P.A.L. Football – Grunts (6-8 year olds)
This program is open to children ages 6-8 years of age. Practices will begin in August and will be held at J.F.K. Stadium and the Mama Johnson Field from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Hoboken has been overhauling local parks, such as the recent revamping of Jackson Street Park with new playground equipment and cushioning. Now the spotlight has been turned on Church Square Park in the center of town. With $1.6 million to spend, there’s a lot that can be done. Be part of the discussion at the upcoming community meeting on Thursday, May 17 from 5pm to 8pm on the 2nd floor of the Hoboken Public Library, located at 500 Park Avenue. More details are available at the City of Hoboken website.

Below is the text of a letter from Superintendent Mark Toback to NJ Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf regarding the impact of the proposed DaVinci Charter School on the Hoboken public schools, dated April 25, 2012. Click here to see a scan of the original public document including all attachments.

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Hoboken Public Schools
OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
1115 Clinton Street – Hoboken, NJ 07030

Dr. Mark Toback
Superintendent of Schools
mtoback@hoboken.k12.nj.us

April 25, 2012

Mr. Christopher Cerf
Commissioner of Education
New Jersey Department of Education
100 River View Plaza
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Commissioner Cerf:

I appreciate the fact that you made a great effort to reach out to school superintendents during your convocation at Jackson High School in late February. You communicated your concerns about a number of important issues and demonstrated a great awareness of matters important to school leaders. I enjoyed hearing about the ongoing efforts of your new leadership team to complete the task of developing a comprehensive database that will create many new opportunities to analyze student performance information. I have already had a chance to use the software to assess the performance of our elementary schools. I also appreciate your efforts to immediately establish standardized systems for all school districts in calculating high school graduation rates and the academia growth of students.

As a result of your outreach efforts, I feel comfort in communicating serious and legitimate concerns I have regarding the potential formation of a new charter school in Hoboken. I have included compelling information supporting those concerns and I am hopeful you will consider my letter when making a determination about this proposed charter school. As you will see, I am outnumbered in many ways. There are many letters of support included in the application packet for the proposed DaVinci Charter School. Another challenge is the fact that charter applications are being reviewed by a committee of volunteers and many committee members are charter school advocates.

The charter school applicants did a very good job in developing many parts of their school concept. There is no doubt that STEM programs are very appealing for a variety of reasons. While you have been presented with certain information from the would be founders and supporters of the DaVinci Charter School, I feel an obligation to present my analysis regarding the impact of this potential new charter school on the students in our regular (non-charter) public schools as well as the impact that three other charter schools have already had on the regular public schools.

Based on my review of NJAC 6A:11-2.2, I understand that you and the members of the State Board of Education have a significant amount of work to do in analyzing the impact of granting a new charter. On the following pages, you will find that I have included administrative code, statutes regarding charter schools, and passages drawn from the DaVinci application. I have provided my feedback and/or analysis for your consideration. My goal was to focus on factual information as much as possible.

6A11-2.2 Prior to the granting of the charter, the Commissioner shall assess the student composition of a charter school and the segregative effect that the loss of students may have on its district of residence. The assessment shall be based on the enrollment from the initial recruitment period pursuant to NJAC 6A11-4.4 (a) and (b).

I have included my analysis of the student composition for each of the schools for your review (Attachment A). The analysis, taken directly from enrollment statistics posted on the NJDOE website for the 2010-2011 school year, vividly reveals that the existing charter schools in Hoboken have had a segregative effect on the children of Hoboken. The segregative effect exists in terms of ethnicity and socioeconomic status. You can see that in almost every category, there is a large divide between the enrollment in the regular public (non-charter) schools and the charter schools.

As supplemental enrollment/demographic information, I have enclosed enrollment numbers for Hoboken Charter School (Attachment B). While the school appears to be the most diverse of the charter schools when enrollment is summarized, there are some important facts missed with the summary enrollment figures. Enrollment at the early grade levels is actually much less diverse. After completing a tour of the Hoboken Charter School high school classrooms, I am concerned about the level of funding this charter district is using to support the education of the high school students, especially when compared to the funding the state provides to support the education of these children.

The composition of students at the existing charter schools in Hoboken is relevant because the applicants for DaVinci expressed their interest in replicating the student enrollment at the Hola Charter School and due to the fact that there already is a segregative effect. You will note the following on page 2-12 of the application for the DaVinci Charter School:

Lunch Rates: We based these figures on the experience of the Hola Charter School which has a similar population to what we anticipate ours to be, and uses the same food vendor we plan to use, as well as on actual quotes from the food vendor, Revolution Foods.

We assume a 70% participation rate in full price school lunch purchases at a purchase price of $3.50, which is what Hola experienced at this price point, and a FRL rate of 20% – slightly higher than Hola’s.

In addition to concerns about fair competition among food service vendors and the fairness of the charter school random student selection process, this simple passage about school lunch creates what I see as a significant legal and civil rights issue. As you can see from Attachment A, the anticipated composition of the DaVinci Charter School, if similar to Hola, or any other charter school in Hoboken, would only serve to further segregate a population of children who have already experienced a segregative effect.

In addition, you will also see the following on page 1-80 of the DaVinci application:

Hoboken is just over a square mile, and most children walk to school. Many of our students would probably come from within a half mile of our location, given that the bulk of new 3-bedroom construction is in the Northwest area of Hoboken. All streets in Hoboken have sidewalks, and it is a very walking-friendly town.

Attachment C is a printout of three bedroom housing available in Hoboken on April 23, 2012. I have highlighted the units from the north part of town where the student enrollment is anticipated. I included this information to give you a sense of the real estate values so you can further understand the socioeconomic differences between the students intended to enroll in the DaVinci Charter School and the students already attending the non-charter Hoboken Schools. You can also see vast differences in socioeconomics based on attachment A where you will see the number of students in free and reduced lunch at each of the non charter public schools and you can compare this to the anticipated DaVinci population where only 20% of the students are projected as free and reduced lunch students.

Laura Siegel, the would be founder and Principal of the proposed DaVinci Charter School, spoke to me directly about the anticipated student enrollment. She stated to me that she is interested in bringing back into the public schools a number of students currently enrolled in private schools. This plan does not bode well for the students in our non-charter public schools due to the fact that the private school student enrollment intended for the DaVinci Charter School means that there would simply be a decrease in funding for our existing students. I am concerned that despite a required random selection process, the DaVinci founders have already stated their desired student demographic, and they have actually put this in writing. This is troubling and at odds with what I believe the New Jersey Department of Education seeks in charter school enrollment based on the existence of 18A:36A-8 (e) which reads as follows:

The admission policy of the charter school shall, to the maximum extent practicable, seek the enrollment of a cross section of the community’s school age population including racial and academic factors.

The DaVinci founders would like to open their school at the Monroe Center in Hoboken. It is important to understand that space is at a premium in Hoboken and the existing charter schools have struggled with finding space for a number of years. Large parts of the Monroe Center have been vacant for some time. However, the other charter schools in Hoboken have not pursued the use of the Monroe Center despite their desperate need for space. There is a reason the existing charter schools have pursued classroom space at sites other than the Monroe Center. The Monroe Center is zoned as a commercial and industrial site and has been an industrial site throughout most of its history. There are countless examples of problems when former industrial sites are used for other purposes.

I am concerned that a Hoboken city official would provide assurances that a zoning change would happen in advance of any application or other legal process. While industrial usage of the space may not pose a problem, the use of this space as a school may have an impact on the health and well-being of the students due to the historic usage of the site.

At a minimum, I believe the suitability of the Monroe Center for usage as a school location requires further investigation before any charter is granted for the DaVinci Charter School based on 18A:36A-10.

A charter school may be located in part of an existing public school building, in space provided on a public work site, in a public building, or any other suitable location. The facility shall be exempt from public school facility regulations except those pertaining to the health and safety of the pupils.

We are anticipating a total charter enrollment of approximately 600 students in the 2012-2013 school year. If the DaVinci Charter School is approved and enrollment progresses as outlined in the application, the charter enrollment in Hoboken will exceed 800 students. Under 18A:36A-4, there is language regarding the formation of charter schools and limits to enrollment in excess of 500 students or 25% of the student body of the school district in which the charter is granted, whichever is less. If this enrollment limit is applied to this district, we already have a charter enrollment in excess of 500 students and 25% of the student body.

I think it is important to consider the full impact of charter numbers on the school district overall and by grade level. When you analyze the charter grade level enrollments (the charters in Hoboken are focused primarily on the elementary grades) and look to the future, we are rapidly approaching a point where there will be an equal numbers of charter elementary students as there are regular public school elementary students without the addition of another charter school. We also face a system of disjointed educational programs because many of the students would have to return to the non-charter public schools or attend school elsewhere based on the limited grade levels that exist with most of the Hoboken charter schools. Hola Charter School has a charter to operate up until the middle grades and the same applies to the DaVinci application. The students exiting the charter schools (and their parents) face some difficult educational decisions due to this planned lack of continuity into the middle grades.

Financially, the creation of another school would be devastating to the operation of the Hoboken non-charter public schools (Attachment D). This year, the charter schools, due to increased enrollment and a seemingly changed school funding formula, experienced an enormous increase in funding and there was a corresponding decrease in funding for our non-charter public schools. While on the surface it appeared that the Hoboken non-charter public schools received a significant increase in slate aid, the increased charter school allocation led the district to actually experience a reduction of nearly $400,000. If the DaVinci charter is granted, the increased enrollment will continue to have an impact on the students attending the regular public schools by forcing additional reductions in funding to support their academic programs.

In terms of programs, the creation of another charter school would inhibit progress in our school district. We are interested in possibly establishing a middle school program to rectify some issues that exist in the district including our own demographic issues.

Currently, we are housing our eighth graders at Hoboken High School. Many parents have expressed concerns about this practice. We also have middle school aged students attending our elementary schools. At Wallace School, many of our middle grade students are housed in temporary trailers. We are exploring the idea of opening a middle school at the same time the DaVinci Charter School would open if the charter is granted. The requirement for the district to pay for the anticipated enrollment up front would prevent us from creating the middle school program we desperately need because we would be unable to increase our budget within cap to fund both.

When you consider the issue of efficiency and the general belief that there are economics of scale, the idea of operating five separate school districts (four- charter districts and one public non charter) within one square ride seems contradictory to any efforts to increase efficiency. Further review of the proposed staffing for the DaVinci Charter School (found under the application Section 13 Human Resources) indicates that only six classroom teachers would actually be hired to educate the students with subs and a variety of other support staff, administrators, and contracted service providers making up the balance of the proposed staffing. Section 2-2 (Detailed Budget Narrative) indicates projected instructional expenses of approximately $675,000 while projected administrative expenses total approximately $438,000. 1 would like to share more information about comparative costs at charter schools for administration, but I learned that charter school budgets are not available for public review. I was very surprised to learn that charter school budgets cannot be reviewed by the public even though they are public schools.

I suggest that a number of corrective steps must take place immediately to end the segregative effect that already exists based on the enrollment facts presented for the three previously established charter schools in Hoboken. I request an evaluation of the required random selection process for charter students because I do not believe that the segregative effect of the Hoboken charter schools can be explained as a random occurrence. At a minimum, it appears that the charter schools are in violation of 18A:36A-8. The existing charter schools in Hoboken are not seeking a cross section of enrollment in the community’s school age populations including racial and academic factors. If the 25% or 500 student rule applies in Hoboken, then I believe that the NJDOE must immediately take steps to limit increases in charter school enrollment because the enrollment already surpasses the limitations established by law.

I recognize that there are many reasons why a group of parents would like to form a school with a focus on science and technology. I share their belief that school programs with a particular focus or theme would add to the many educational opportunities in Hoboken. In fact, the middle school program under consideration would probably operate with multiple career or academic focus opportunities for the students. We are already using the FOSS science program. This is the same science program proposed for use at DaVinci. We are also considering a new math program, possibly the same program proposed at DaVinci (Singapore Math). The DaVinci School would likely duplicate many initiatives we have in place or are planning. Children attending the charter and non-charter public schools would benefit greatly from this middle school program that will most likely never come to fruition with another charter school approval in Hoboken. The middle school program and the other accompanying changes that would be necessary in the district to allow for a middle school would serve to bring the community together as opposed to further segregating the children.

Overall, there is a need in Hoboken for a focus and enhancement of middle level educational opportunities as opposed to an effort to duplicate educational services at the elementary level while simultaneously incurring significant administrative costs. In addition to the three other existing charter schools, there are a number of private schools in operation in Hoboken such as Stevens Co-Op, The Hudson School, The Mustard Seed School and a variety of others. One basis for the charter school movement is to offer parents options. There are already a surprising variety of educational options in Hoboken.

Recently, there was an article appearing in the news where you questioned the legal expenses that a school district incurred in opposing all application for a charter school. I would like to make you aware that this district did not incur legal expenses thus far in connection with the DaVinci application. More than likely, there are other legal points that could be made regarding the DaVinci application, but have not been made because I did not confer with our school attorney. At the same time, I am concerned about future legal expenses related to this charter application due to the delicate nature of the issues.

In closing, I would like to note that this letter may or may not reflect the opinions of the individual members of the Hoboken Board of Education. The Hoboken Board of Education may or may not take their own action in expressing their opinion regarding the possible formation of the DaVinci Charter School. While I am not opposed to charter schools in many cases, and I understand that there can be benefits with a system of charter schools, I am opposed to the application for the DaVinci Charter School for the many reasons noted above.

Sincerely Yours,

Mark Toback
Superintendent of School

Copy:       Hoboken Board of Education Members
Monica Tone

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Note: The above content has been obtained via scanning software and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

The Metro Moms are spending the weekend in activities both moms and kids can enjoy. Kids like table manners, right? http://metromoms.net/2012/05/10/saturday-selections-2/

Hope everyone has a great mother’s day!

Kathy

The City of Hoboken sponsors some amazing activities for kids (and adults too!) My kids have taken part in Art in the Park for the last three summers, and I am excited to see some new offerings for my oldest child now that she is in the 5-8 year old group.

Each session costs $25, payable via Visa or Mastercard at  www.hobokennj.org/register. Each session is limited to 60 kids, so  sign up now to secure a spot! You have to register for CommunityPass before being able to sign up for classes, with priority given to Hoboken residents.

Summer Classes for Ages 4 & Under

Art in the Park (Elysian Park): Morning Session
This program is a six week creative arts program for toddlers ages 4 and under. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and dressed in messy clothing as materials used may stain clothing. Sessions will be held at Elysian Park on June 20th, June 27th, July 11th, July 18th, July 25th, and August 1st from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please call (201) 420-2207 if you need further information.

Art in the Park (Elysian Park): Afternoon Session
This program is a six week creative arts program for toddlers ages 4 and under. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and dressed in messy clothing as materials used may stain clothing. Sessions will be held at Elysian Park on June 20th, June 27th, July 11th, July 18th, July 25th and August 1st from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Please call 201-420-2207 for further information.

Art in the Park (Pier A Park): Morning Session
This program is a six week creative arts program for toddlers ages 4 and under. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and dressed in messy clothing as materials used may stain clothing. Sessions will be held at Pier A Park on June 18th, June 25th, July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd, and July 30th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Please call 201-420-2207 for further information.

Art in the Park (Pier A Park): Afternoon Session
This program is a six week creative arts program for toddlers ages 4 and under. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and dressed in messy clothing as materials used may stain clothing. Sessions will be held at Pier A Park on June 18th, June 25th, July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd, and July 30th from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. Please call 201-420-2207 for further information.

Super Soccer Clinic (Co-Ed)
Program is open to children ages 5 through 8. It will run every Tuesday and Thursday at the Little League Field (5th and River Street) from 9:00 am – 10:00 am beginning July 10th – July 26th.

Gymnastics Program (Wednesday Group)
Program is open to children ages 5 through 12 and will take place at the Multi Service Center Gymnasium (124 Grand Street) from 9:00 am to 11:30 am beginning July 11th – August 1st. – FULL

Gymnastic Program (Thursday Group)
Program is open to children ages 5 through 12 and will take place at the Multi Service Center Gymnasium (124 Grand Street) from 9:00 am to 11:30 am beginning July 12th – August 2nd.

Gymnastics Program (Friday Group)
Program is open to children ages 5 through 12 and will take place at the Multi Service Center Gymnasium (124 Grand Street) from 9:00 am to 11:30 am beginning July 13th – August 3rd.

The next Mom Consulting Network meeting is on Friday, May 9 from 11am-1pm at Sky Club Fitness at 125 Marshall Street, 7th floor in Hoboken. $6 childcare and $5 validated parking (click for details , member login required) at the garage on 2nd Street between Harrison & Marshall Streets. Catered lunch and refreshments are provided free of charge, plus pick up a free hand sanitizer from PromptMD!

The meeting format is 45 minutes of group intros, followed by a refreshment break and then group discussion with a focus on “What do you want?” and “How much do you need?” Attendees should think about what they truly want to do along with how much time they have to work versus how much they need to earn. Bounce business ideas off the group, mentor and be mentored by parents who are at all stages of their careers.

Helpful Work/Life Articles

• Being Unsociable with Social Media

• Planning Your Dream Career

• It’s Not Always Sunny as a Business Owner

More parenting career articles at at http://feeds.feedburner.com/MetroCareer

I look forward to seeing everyone on Friday!

Kathy

The topic of charter schools has been extensively discussed recently in the media, with exhaustive arguments both for and against them. With reductions in funding for education nationwide, the debate over charter schools has grown increasingly contentious.  This debate has resurfaced in Hoboken.

There are currently three charter schools in Hoboken, representing approximately 30% of the public student population. A proposed fourth school, DaVinci Charter School, has passed the first round of state approval. There are strong supporters and detractors of this school. I have been following along with the debate and have come across some useful resources that I would like to share with my blog readers to help you gain a deeper understanding of both sides and draw your own conclusions.

For complete details related to the proposed charter school, you can review the entire “DaVinci Charter School of Hoboken New Jersey Charter School Application,” dated April 2, 2012.

Hoboken Board of Education member Irene Sobolov has responded to the DaVinci application. She encourages school choice and dialogue while raising concerns about funding and duplication of services. Concerned parents are raising signatures because they fear cuts to existing programs due to the need to find additional funding to cover the charter school costs.

Some discussion has revolved around the concept that there is a fixed amount of funding per student that moves with them. However, I have been told that public school savings take time to absorb because fixed operating expenses such as classrooms and personnel have to be maintained regardless of the number of students. Students entering charter schools tend to be drawn in small numbers from a range of schools and classrooms so cost savings are not immediately realized.

Proponents of the proposed DaVinci Charter School have attested to make the case that by increasing school choice it will encourage families with school-age children to remain in Hoboken. Opponents would point out that a new charter school might not be the optimal solution to the issue of family retention since many existing charter school students do not currently reside in Hoboken. Another concern voiced by opponents is that charter schools do not adequately meet the needs of special needs students, leaving the public schools to cover the high costs of their requirements. Opponents also argue that education is only one factor in urban family flight, and due to the small population served by this proposed charter school, would not make a significant impact in stemming the trend.

My purpose in writing this post is to provide an overview of the current conversation in the hopes that readers will be able to draw their own conclusions and participate in finding a solution to the issues raised. The Board of Education will be meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, May 8th at 7pm at 1115 Clinton Street in the board meeting room. Feel free to comment on this post and share your views, but I encourage you instead to attend the meeting and participate in the discussion surrounding DaVinci Charter School.

5/8/12 Update: Here is a social media synopsis of the May 8th, 2012 Hoboken Board of Education meeting, including discussion of the proposed DaVinci Charter School.

5/13/12 Update: I received a copy of the public letter sent by Hoboken Superintendent Mark Toback to New Jersey Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf regarding the impact of the proposed DaVinci Charter School on the Hoboken public schools. You can review the entire document from Superintendent Toback to Commissioner Cerf, dated April 25, 2012.

The letter expresses concerns about the demographics and location of the proposed DaVinci Charter School along with potential financial repercussions for the Hoboken public schools since existing charter schools have more students and higher costs than originally anticipated. There also appear to be legal issues regarding the proposed DaVinci Charter School that could generate substantial expenses for both DaVinci Charter School and the Hoboken public school district.

The charter school debate may be moot since it appears that Hoboken has approximately 100 more charter school seats than are permitted by law. So not only could the application for DaVinci Charter School be denied on that basis alone, but an investigation could result in seats being removed from existing Hoboken charter schools.

This statement was written by Hoboken Board of Education member Irene Sobolov in response to the proposed DaVinci Charter School application in Hoboken, NJ.

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I think that those who know me know I have always been a passionate advocate for the Hoboken Public School District even before becoming a BoE member, yet I always encouraged parents here to explore all the choices in Hoboken.

I hesitated to post because I am not interested in starting a war between Hoboken parents. I think that would be extremely sad for the community. We are all concerned about our children, passionate about our schools and invested in the community. I believe it is important and healthy for the community to engage in a dialogue about the prospect of creating a new, publicly funded school district as it impacts everyone in Hoboken.

As charters are funded almost exclusively from local tax dollars, the cost of creating a new, publicly funded district (approx $1,000,000) can come from two places: the budget allocated for existing Hoboken Public School students or raising the tax levy.

As all charters are separate districts, they have their own administrators, support staff, teachers, supply contracts, etc. In this case, the monies would also pay for duplicating equipment and curricula already available to every student in the Hoboken public school district: FOSS hands on science curriculum, individualized, independent math curriculum and SmartBoards (available in every classroom). And other school supplies, chairs, desks, books, kindergarten centers, etc.

So, one of the greatest impacts would be on students and families currently attending the Hoboken public schools as the funding would come directly out of the budget set for their programming and services. Such a reduction of funding could limit the district’s ability to continue to provide a variety of extra-curricular activities that the district families appreciate as part of their child’s education (ex: music, art, chorus, athletics and theater) and possibly other areas.

Another way to fund a new charter district in Hoboken is to increase the local tax levy (flat for three years), however, due to the State mandated 2% cap, the entire amount necessary to fund the new school would not be covered by the tax increase. Some portion (a few $100,000) would still have to come from the budget allocated for Hoboken Public School students.

I don’t believe there is anything anti-charter about engaging in a dialogue about the community impacts of a fifth publicly funded district to Hoboken. I don’t believe there is anything anti-choice about discussing adding another elementary district to the nine already available in Hoboken. I encourage everyone (as I always do) to attend the next Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 8^th at 7pm. Dr. Toback will be presenting his impact statement he submitted to decision makers in Trenton. You can also hear more about all the other wonderful initiatives in the Hoboken Public Schools. I hope to see you there.

Irene