Despite the popularity of charter schools and increased necessity of new learning options, a group of parents who want to start an online charter school are under attack by their local school board, who is leading a war that includes lies, distortions and hostile actions. The Teaneck School Board — fearing that a charter would take money from their district (which means they know people would leave??) has organized public forums during school hours, used children as carrier pigeons for propaganda, organized rallies and have now expended precious taxpayer time and resources to file a suit against the citizens who are applying and the state of New Jersey. The district wants an end put to such schools. Good try. Other school boards tried this in the early part of the state’s law and were twice rebuffed by the State Supreme Court. But they like getting in the way of the little people who dare to question their authority, so they’ve slung whatever they can at this school. They are trying to get parents, teachers, and principals from the area to speak at a rally they will hold on school property. Wonder who’s actually helping students learn while they are waging their private war?
Update:
All the hoopla over how many Teaneck residents really don’t want a virtual charter in their neighborhood and a mere twenty show up to rally against the plan? That’s right. Only 20 people carried placards to protest against the plan, chanting “We want a say in what we pay.” This measly group showed up outside the National Guard Armory where Governor Christie was addressing the press on another issue. The Terrible Twenty were able to convince Teaneck’s mayor to call for a district vote before any charter school gets established.
This would be laughable if not for the misinformation about virtual and charter schools tossed about by this small group of malcontents. And, in the end, these malcontents were given a win, as the New Jersey Department of Education rejected the application; no doubt a political move aimed at calming suburban discontent.