The challenges facing the Newark Public School System are enormous and longstanding. Efforts to bring about reforms that will lift the burden of state oversight and offer our children the promise of high quality education have all fallen considerably short of the mark.
The parents in our city are desperate to find answers in their search for education experiences that promise their children access to higher education, successful participation in the workforce, and the opportunity to become contributing members of their community.
Many parents have found it difficult to obtain what they seek from the city’s traditional public schools and, as a consequence, have increasingly turned to charter schools in hopes of meeting their children’s educational needs.
Indeed, the growth of charter schools in Newark is a reflection of the deep desire for educational options on the part Newark’s parents. This growth, however, has resulted in a decline in enrollment in the city’s traditional public schools.
Even if the state does not approve another charter school in Newark, the number of students attending charters in the city will increase from 21 percent to 36 percent by the 2016-17 school year. That’s a net loss to the district of more than 7,400 students in the next four years.
It would be irresponsible for me to say the district should continue to operate as it has without changing. It’s clear to anyone who looks at the numbers that some schools are going to have to be closed. But this cannot be done hastily and without public input.
Closing a single school is a disruptive process that impacts everyone from parents and students to teachers and school staff to neighborhoods surrounding the schools. Closing multiple schools in a single year is unnecessarily disruptive and creates a sense of chaos in a school system that is already facing chronic problems.
Furthermore, I am firmly opposed to closing Weequahic High School and Malcolm X Shabazz High School because I believe they both are significant in their respective communities and both have the potential to be turned around into centers of excellence.
Since Cami Anderson’s plan was made public, I have been visiting each of the schools that is on the list to be closed and speaking with principals, teachers, parents and students. Everyone I have spoken to is passionate about their school and I’ve heard many good ideas that were not reflected in the plans from the district. That’s why I am surprised that district officials did not engage in a dialogue with stakeholders.
I firmly believe that any plan to close schools must be done in partnership with parents, students, teachers and community stakeholders. I envision a multi-step process that involves public hearings at each of the schools as well as charrettes with stakeholders, neighborhood impact studies on the effects of closing of the schools, timelines, and a detailed plan that defines expectations, sets goals and clearly explains how educational outcomes for students will be improved.
Most importantly, if a public school is to be closed and turned over to a charter school, all current students enrolled in the closing school must be guaranteed admission to the charter school.
As mayor, I will not support any plan that does not have the input, buy-in and support of Newark residents. If we follow the course of action that I have recommended, I believe we can develop a plan that the community will embrace.
Newark Councilman Anibal Ramos Jr. is a candidate for mayor.
