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Teaneck Officials: Change Charter Law

“Teaneck school officials want ‘antiquated’ charter law changed”
By Linh Tat
The Record
November 29, 2011

School district officials issued a rallying cry Tuesday, urging residents to lobby state education officials and the Legislature to amend an “antiquated” law that fails to address funding for virtual charter schools.

Their call to action was prompted by a recent application from a group that wants to open the Garden State Virtual Charter School, an online school with a drop-in center in Teaneck, next fall.

Currently in New Jersey, charter schools are allocated funding for each student equal to 90 percent of the per-pupil funding in the student’s home district, with the money coming from those districts. Because it is not yet known where students for the proposed virtual school would come from, the state in late October wrote to the Teaneck school district, suggesting it set aside $15.4 million next year, which would cover the cost of all the students.

This sounded alarm bells, as Teaneck school officials warned that setting aside such a large sum could lead to massive layoffs and program cuts. The state since has clarified that the district would not be expected to pay for all the students enrolled at the charter school, only the ones from Teaneck.

Still, Robert Finger, the district’s business administrator, told parents and other residents who attended Tuesday’s special board meeting at Teaneck High school that the county schools superintendent could reject the district’s budget if it does not set aside enough money for the virtual charter.

Board President Ardie Walser said he and Superintendent Barbara Pinsak were told in a private meeting with state education officials last week to “wait and see” what happens.

“We did not leave with the warm-fuzzies,” he said.

Board member Clara Williams added: “What we’re witnessing here is fiscal starvation of the public school system in New Jersey, and we’re also seeing erosion of local control.”

This prompted some of the roughly 125 parents and teachers who packed the meeting room to suggest it is time to “Occupy Trenton” and make sure the law is changed.

“I’m surprised more people aren’t here tonight. I think it’s time for us to get on the bus to Trenton and scream,” resident Kevin Barksdale said.

The Garden State Virtual Charter School wants to open next fall with 1,000 students from throughout New Jersey, with enrollment increasing to 3,500 students by its fourth year in operation.

However, even if the school’s application is approved, its co-founder, Jason Flynn, the parent of a Teaneck public school student, vowed that the program won’t launch unless the state addresses funding for virtual charter schools.

Reached by phone Tuesday night, he said he agrees that the Teaneck school district should not be burdened with funding all of the virtual charter school’s students.

“We would only proceed if the funding follows the backpack,” he said. “We’re not here to hurt any students.”

Flynn said he was not invited to Tuesday’s meeting and learned about it after he was scheduled to attend another meeting. He said his school plans to hold its own public forum next month to field questions from the public and to dispel myths and rumors about the school that he said have been spread by critics in recent weeks.

The state will decide in January whether to approve Garden State’s application.