Letter: Montclair Doesn't Need Charter School

We have a problem. You can help!!! Quest Academy has submitted its application for a charter high school again—for the fourth time. It was denied the last three times. The application is based on several assumptions, all of them incorrect:

1. Under the current law, charter schools are supposed to fill a need that current schools don't meet. But we don't need a charter school in Montclair. Montclair schools may not be perfect. But with an almost 100% graduation rate and 89% of the Class of 2010 attending college, they are undisputedly successful schools.

2. Quest's application is based out an outdated assessment of Montclair High. Quest founders say it's too big for some kids. But in 2009, the district hired James Earle to be MHS  principal. Mr. Earle, as many of you know, was hired in no small part for his experience in developing small learning communities. He was assistant principal at the 1500-student Spartenburg High School in SC, a diverse, high-performing school where every single student was enrolled in a small learning community. After less than two full years under Mr. Earle's leadership, the HS will begin to roll out two—maybe three—small learning communities this fall. Why do we need a charter school to do what our public schools are already doing?

3. Montclair cannot afford to divert $2 million from our traditional public schools to pay for an untested school run by inexperienced people. Quest plans to enroll 160 children in grades 9 & 10 in next fall. After this year's budget debate—with discussions about closing small schools and student activity fees—do we really want our children to start $2 million in the hole next year? No single school can absorb a cut that big—all of our children will be forced to deal with less so that 160 students can have more.

WE NEED AT LEAST 200 LETTERS BY JUNE 1ST, TELLING EDUCATION COMMISSIONER CHRIS CERF THAT MONTCLAIR DOESN'T NEED A CHARTER SCHOOL. Please go to www.thequestisover.webs.com to find out how easy it is to send that letter. PLEASE GO TO THE SITE NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! (If the link doesn't work, please cut & paste the name into your browser).