In Support of our Public Schools

As the product of an all-girls, private Catholic school on Staten Island, moving here 15 years ago with my husband and two sons knowing that they would be attending the West Orange Public Schools made me nervous.

First, let me tell you about my oldest son. He was diagnosed with Central Auditory Processing Disorder when he was three and placed in the Early Intervention Program at . He thrived. By the time he was ready for Redwood Kindergarten, he was declassified and only needed speech. Granted, he was a challenge through elementary, middle and high school. But his teachers were, at each and every level, committed, talented, caring individuals that worked with him, helped me, and now, he is applying to colleges with his 4.1 GPA in Honors and AP classes.

My younger son, currently a freshman, has done outstandingly well, whether academically, in sports, or music. I suppose I should tell you that when "I" left Pleasantdale, Redwood, Edison Central 6, and Liberty Middle School, "I" cried. Out of appreciation, out of love, out of relationships and friendships and character formed, our experience in the schools touched us all on levels way beyond the academic.

Sadly, I read how all the negative naysayers that complain about their property taxes (which I also pay) say that our schools have failed. And yet I know about the endless awards, successes and achievments of one of the most economically and culturally diverse school districts in the state, and wonder why any taxpayer would want to post so negatively against a school district that affects not only our children, but our property values. We moved here because my husband's family had so many good things to say about the school district. I venture to say, most of the families today would say the same thing to those who question its worth.

The latest attack on our district is not coming from those naysayers, but the Hua Mei Charter School application. Originally rejected, the school reapplied and has now passed the first round of the approval process. Livingston and Millburn rallied against it, and now it seeks to pull students from West Orange, South Orange and Maplewood, with the school being located in Maplewood.

The school is no more than a private school dream that Jutta Gassner-Snyder, Hua Mei's lead applicant, seeks to have funded with public school dollars, which are already depleted here in West Orange to the tune of nine million over the past two years. Projections have the "Mandarin Immersion School" taking 340K out of our school budget - to start. Interestingly, Mandarin is offered from grades 8-12 in West Orange, which boasts an award-winning program, funded in part by grant monies from the Chinese government itself. One might wonder if the Hua Mei Charter school boasts such pedigree. But I digress. 

This blogger does not oppose Charter Schools. They have their place in poorly performing school districts, but West Orange is not one of them. So this Friday, on behalf of my sons, and the rest of the kids here in town, I will be attending a Rally against the Hua Mei Charter School on Friday, Jan. 6, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at  in the Maplewood Community Center), 120 Burnett Ave, Maplewood, NJ, along with Senator Codey, and Assemblypersons McKeon and Jasey. Please join us and your local legislators (Codey, McKeon and Jasey). If you cannot attend, please email or write to: Mr. Christopher D. Cerf, Acting Commissioner, New Jersey Department of Education,100 River View Plaza,P.O. Box 500, Trenton, New Jersey 08625, or go online to sign a petition at change.org: NJ Education Commissioner Chris Cerf: Reject the Hua Mei Charter School Application.

Thanks for reading!