How disappointing. All the work and effort that has been put in by so many to find the best possible location for the school to continue its work is being tossed aside based on complaints from people who clearly do not have the best interests of the school in mind.

I agree with Viktoriya, I hope that in lieu of being able to use this location that the council will suggest what they believe is a more suitable location and assist the school in expediting whatever needs to be done to get the students to a suitable location as soon as possible.

I disagree, Viktoriya. It appears with all Republicans and Democrats voting for this, that our council members did not allow politics to enter into the debate at all, and made a decision for the good of the town.

It is not the responsibility of the Council to find a suitable site.

Stacy, I think what is disappointing is the behavior by many Hatikvah parents, in the court room, on Patch, and in letters to the editor.

I also find the sense of entitlement distatsteful. Why does the township owe you another location? This township has provided 8 elementary schools for public use, paid for by public dollars. If you choose not to use them, that is your choice. But, who are you to demand that we stretch our tax dollars thin and pay for a 9th elementary school?

I'm confused Anne. You behavior has been pretty rude as well. Especially the posts you made about your own daughter being enrolled and that the school lied to you. How is the town paying for a 9th school? Eventually the school age population will return to the old highs and you'll be complaining about overcrowding.

I fell across this article while reading that Baja Fresh closed. Another vacancy on 18.

Anyways I thought this school was a zoning variance? All that woman Anne keeps doing is attacking your staff, students, principal, blah blah blah. I wouldn't listen to a word she says. She is a know-it-all.

Debbie Morris, while it is not the Town Council's responsibility to find the school a new location, it is disheartening that in all of this the town council did not express any regret that while they were doing what they thought was best for the town, it was unfortunate that school children from East Brunswick will be negatively impacted by the outcome. A small acknowledgement of the children this impacts would have left an impression that the Council has a heart. I don't think that should be too much to ask of people who call themselves leaders.

Why would that be a conflict?

NGA - no conflict here. They have been and are continuing to do what is exactly in their agenda.

"Greater good" is a matter of opinion and not law. The Township Council was instructed to follow proper procedure under the law, which they did not do. Unfortunately, such supposed "greater good" decisions will cost the township $ in litigation fees (as they have in the past) and Hatikvah will prevail (as it has in the past).

Amy, the attorney who represented the council was pretty strict about explaining the rules for the hearing and keeping the council members within those parameters. Actually, if you look at his firms record, they are a very pro-charter firm. I know that with all those years of lobbying experience you have that this type of spin comes naturally to you, but I think you've crossed the line here.

careful - I am not sure if you attended the original hearing but the council did not listen to their attorney at all. It was quite obvious from their lines of questions and comments that they were biased against Hatikvah and were looking for any and all reason to create a problem for the school. They appointed a variance committee to oversee the town yet threw out the decision based on reasoning not allowed according to the town attorney!

The most eye-opening comment of the night was Councilwoman's Ferraro's explanation of how a town budget works. She said the best situation that East Brunswick could hope for is one in which people come to town everyday to work & shop and then GO HOME to their other towns at night. In other words, TO LIVE in town is not acceptable. This supposedly keeps the non-residential tax base larger as it seems the town has issues balancing the budget.

I can't help but ask; where is the discussion in the official zoning board record about the township's money problems? Certainly it must have been in there if her speech about the loss of a commercial building was the basis of her decision. How many times did the attorney state that only matters of the record can be discussed?

Using her logic, she should look into the golden triangle tax dealings. That project is a loss for the town anyway you look at it. Ferraro should be ashamed of herself.

Amy - very well put.

Perhaps the Hatikvah parents should rethink the way they are currently representing themselves. I do not believe belittling anyone who disagrees with them is really the best way to garner any type of public support for themselves.

Well said Anne. I for one have trouble comprehending the manner in which this is being "argued" regardless of my position for or against. I understand passion for a particular point of view but there are better ways in which to express them.

Anne, I've seen the antagonizing, dismissive and disrespectful comments you've made on this board against people who don't see things the way you do. You too should be careful about how you're representing yourself, particularly if you're going to throw stones. The new kick out there is to accuse Hatikvah and its parents of "belittling"/arguing against anyone who doesn't agree with them. What you need to realize is that the same can be said about many of those who don't support the school. Some folks have legitimate comments and say them in a way that's not offensive, buy many many more have resorted to name calling and angry, vicious responses - on both sides frankly. People also need to realize that when people have differing views, it's perfectly natural to argue your own point of view. This too is something done by people on both sides of this argument.
Anne, here is a link to your comments...If you are concerned about how you are representing yourself, you may want to eliminate comments like "you are quite the charmer. Perhaps it is best that my children do not go to school with anyone raised by you" or "By the way, if your sugar daddies are willing to drop millions on start up costs and buildings for you...or "You are one strange cat!
Anne, uou have been quite belittling I would say.
http://eastbrunswick.patch.com/users/anne-1c4b088d/comments

Completely agree. Luckily, there is legal recourse. I wonder if Hatikvah will sue EB for damages as they relate to delays, increased operating costs and attorney fees due to the Township Council decision?

Lori - Why did you cut out parts of my posting to make it look bad? There's no need to manipulate my words.

I was responding to a Hatikvah parent who has just called someone on here "billous excrement." Here is my post in full, though everyone can just click through:

""billous excrement?" Wow, you are quite the charmer. Perhaps it is best that my children do not go to school with anyone raised by you."

Anne, I'm not sure how seeing the full conversation changes the fact of how you chose to respond. And what's your excuse for using the term "sugar daddy" pr calling someone a strange cat? Sometimes it's better to acknowledge when you're wrong and move on,

@Steven
Has it occurred to you that "The council, board of education and our town leaders" you speak of are actually acting in a manner which represents what the majority of the town wants; and isn't that exactly what they are elected to do?

I could understand if you were making the case that big money or big politics came in and they acted against the people they are elected to represent. But, it seems to me they were doing exactly what their constituents would want them to do.

Benjie- why do you feel the need to bring up religion? I don't see any references made to it prior to your post or did I miss something? I would also suggest that you refrain from characterizing the people who have chosen to stand up for something they BELIEVE in unless you know them on a personal level. And please do not retort to name calling to me as well unless you know me and my affiliations.

Ellen - Hatikvah will prevail. There is a difference between feelings and opinions and following the law. The township council acted on feelings and opinions. The law is quite clear about the aspects of the case they were supposed to consider. Lay-people of the township council are just not well versed in land use law. Hatikvah will win in court and the EB township will have to spend tax-payer dollars on defending its elected officials' capricious and arbitrary decision.

I can think of many reasons, but choose to name a few:
-Three principals in two years and one in particular left under some very questionable circumstances.
- High turnover rate of teachers.
- Teachers with little to no teaching experience.
- High student attrition rate certainly points to most "customers" not being satisfied with the school.
- Questionable building acquisition procedures.
- Being cited for non-compliance of local ordinances.
- Possibly breaking state laws.

Sadly, Sandy Hook could happen anywhere. But Pinkin's implying that a school on Lexington increases the chance of such an incident was downright distasteful and offensive.

@Questionable- You are so right. While she may have meant well, she stepped over the line with that comment and owes an apology to us all.

Nice way to trivialize a persons actions on a topic that they feel very strongly about and have the guts to stand up in front of an entire community and TAKE A STAND. What have YOU done besides taking to this board to post a couple of messages?

As stated in the article, it imposes on the town's ability to continue to utilize the street for its intended zoning purpose

- Hatikvah Principals: Colin Hogan, Naomi Druitz, then Dr. Grayson
- High Turnover rate of teachers: 218% faculty mobility rate for 2011.
- Teachers with little to no teaching expereince: 2011 average years for ecperience for faculty = 1 year
- Student Attrition rate: 2011 student attrition rate: 99%
(the above three from: http://education.state.nj.us/rc/rc11/rcreport.php?c=80&d=6041&s=916)

Another reason there could have been a high student mobility rate is that the original charter said that they would implement the International Baccalaureate (tm) program....a well thought of academic curriculum that, however, must be "bought" into and for which there is a candidacy application process. To my knowledge, Hatikvah has never even been a candidate school to this program although they advertised it during their initial enrollment efforts. When parents found that they were not getting what they were told, they probably removed their children from the school. I think that now Hatikvah uses the Columbia Teacher's workshop curriculum that is the same as that taught in New York City Public Schools. Again, some parents may not see anything special in such a program, although I'm sure that others do....

Viktoria - there was one other reason and the EB BOE helped with it already. Hatikvah offered full-day kindergarten when EB did not. Some parents enrolled simply for that reason and had no real interest in staying long term. This year, since EB has full-day kindergarten - parents who signed up are more interested in what the school has to offer, rather than solely because it was the only full-day kindergarten option. The current waiting list for kindergarten can fill Hatikvah's spots twice over and keeps growing daily.

Kelly, I think you meant to point out that the stats in the web page you linked to are not reliable...unless none of the children ever attended school all year which would account for the 0% attendance rate. And I know that's not correct b/c I know personally a number of children who did in fact go to school just about every day. This would indicate to me that the data is highly unreliable.

Lori, as Kevin Wyman pointed out, the zeroing out of results is used when there are no numbers reported. If you would like to confirm that, you might like to call the state Department of Education.

As far as your experience, I appreciate you sharing it, but it is purely anecdotal and doesn't really tell us anything "reliable."

Kelly, I stand behind my contention that the data is incorrect. The teachers did not turn over entirely during the school year. And I think you're mistaken when you say my anecdotal doesn't say anything reliable. It may not be statistically significant, but it still has value. Particularly because many on this site don't have real experience with or knowledge of the school.

Harlan - you are on point. Thanks

I'm sorry. Can you please tell me where my facts are wrong? Trust me, I don't have "pre-conceived" notions. I know people who were at the initial organizational meetings for Hatikvah. I know at least one Israeli family that enrolled their kids in Hatikvah and have now returned to Israel. I believe that I can also find a copy of one of the original Hatikvah advertisements using the IB program from the Sentinel. I simply stated why I could imagine the student turnover at Hatikvah is so high. Personally, I would be quite angry if I thought I was getting the IB program and, instead, I got something else. My opinions are not impossible to change; I just need some facts.

While Hatikvah did mention the IB program, Ive not heard that as a reason for families not choosing the program. The main reasons I have heard are related to facilities and litigation. (I wish I had data to support this belief but I dont think that such data exists.) Once these issues are resolved, it seems that the student population will reach an even keel and I would also expect that the non-EB crowd will diminish. People generally are hesitant to be pioneers particularly with the education of their children, but once this becomes an established brand, then they will be more likely to select this option.

Harlan, Those are the main reasons? Don't leave out the families who left because the inexperienced teachers did not know how to handle their special needs students. Or, the families who just wanted full day kindergarten and after being there for a year preferred the public schools.

Benjamin - it's probably good to have both.

Benji- Good point...and while you're at it why not go to a heart surgeon without experience so he/she can "have a chance" with your life?

Choice....I never said it was "fact"....However, my presentation of this possible answer is, in fact, based on fact. The reader is entitled to conclude whether or not the possibility I have presented is plausible based on the facts I have provided. Neither you nor I will know why someone took their children out of Hatikvah unless the state has written documentation from the parents explaining their decision.

Critical thinking skills are crucial to achivement. Any school that does not embrace innovation and progression in this regard does so at the peril of their students.

Well said Selena! I could not agree more!!!

Selena, when did you visit the building on Lexington?

@ Selena Palmer..thanks for jumping in here but I can handle the tirade believe me. What is funny is that I an "baiting" Bennie and he keeps taking the bait. While this is a very serious subject, I cannot help but see the humor in some of the posts and respond accordingly. Yes I know it is a bit childish but my sarcastic side takes over sometimes. What is even more intriguing to me is that I have not ONCE declared myself pro or con on Hatikvah in any of my posts. In fact, I have even stated that I have not yet made that determination. Benji throws jabs at me having made the assumption that I am "against" so I must be a trouble maker too. Alas, I am neither....yet.

so you dont have a child at the school. Neither do I . Which is why nothing about Hatikvah bothers me. "the kind" is the people that like to start trouble. Why do you care where their building is? I'm all for people standing up for what they believe in but this is about the children who from what I understand are learning in trailers. Just let them have a building to learn in. I'm pretty sure this will not negatively impact your life. Thats all I'm saying. Respect the charter and the parents that choose to send there. They pay taxes as well and are entitled to their choice. If they dont mind having inexperienced teachers and being in an industrial area why do you?

Harlan, Do you the vending truck company that would be next to Hatikvah sees it that way? Last I heard, they were making every effort to expand their business back there.

Liz, unless you are the owner of the vending company I really can't consider your statement. Otherwise, I heard that Lexington Village is expanding to build 400 more units along the east side of Lexington Avenue.

It is not nonsense. The zoning board granted approval to convert 5 Lexington into medical offices a while ago. The Cranbury Road corridor has been mostly medical offices for decades. Knowing there is no demand for a warehouse, the owner got a change in use approved. I don't see why you are being so nasty.

Meredith, 5 was approved for medical use a long, long time ago and then the deal fell through, possibly because the potential buyer realized how much it would cost to remediate a hazardous waste site. It was bad enough that the buyer went through all that money to go before the zoning board and still decided not to purchase it. Yikes!