I am a Hatikvah parent who attended last night's hearing. With all the facts, expert testimony, and transportation/environmental studies on Hatikvah’s side of the case, I found it remarkable that two residents in a town of 45,000 could argue against a project based on opinions and "observations" (they didn’t enter a single study, fact, or testimony into the record) and attempt to defeat a plan that meets the literal definition of Inherently Beneficial Use. And yet, members of the Town Council saw themselves fit to question traffic experts on traffic, environmental experts on the environment, and certified planning professionals on planning. The Township’s own Zoning Board, Police Department, Fire Department, Planner, Engineer, etc. have signed off on this project. I am hopeful that five Town Council members will trust their own staff and colleagues and uphold the Zoning Board’s decision.

The Council President raised an interesting point about limiting future expansion of the existing industrial properties, but I would like him to consider the probability of the Zoning Board actually approving such expansion plans (if they ever materialize). The zone is now predominantly residential, and if the two residents are so concerned about a school relocating to the zone (improving pedestrian safety, area security, and yielding a signiifcant decrease in truck traffic), will they not oppose expansion of the industrial properties and the certain increase in truck traffic that will come along with it?

If you ever want to see an area that should not be zoned for schools take a look at our town YMCA and the childcare center. It is located on one of the most dangerous stretches of road and an industrial site with dozens of trucks rumbling by hourly. Yet I do not see Deborah Cornavaca and Christine Rampolla or the interests they represent complaining about the YMCA or have I ever heard a peep about it by the Town Council? How very strange. The YMCA should be examined much more thoroughly than Hatikvah-perhaps Deborah and Christine have a point. There are also many schools in EB that are on dangerous roads and close to industrial site-perhaps they too should be closed. But for some reason these two women seem to be focusing on a Charter School. Glad they are looking out for our children's safety.

I am a resident of EB and have no children of school age anymore. It was blatantly obvious that Hughes and Wendell are completely biased against Hatikvah and are on a fishing expedition to find any way possible to delay the development of that school. They are doing nothing more than hurting children with their nefarious actions. Our zoning board is comprised of professionals who fully vetted this application. The burden was on the objectors to this variance to prove to the Council that it was improperly granted. Their attorney barely spoke and almost no questions were posed to him. Instead, the council went right after Hatikvah's attorney and made him prove why the variance was granted, which is improper under the law. I wonder if Hughes and Wendell are being inappropriately lobbied by the objectors or Board of Ed as they seem far from impartial. Wendell was told by the town attorney that there is no conflict of interest posed by Sachs acting as attorney but he wouldn't give up on the issue. Also, the township attorney's instructions that the council utilize only the record before the zoning board were ignored repeatedly. I have lived in Indian Forest near this proposed site for several decades and there is minimal, if any, industrial activity going on there. As a resident, I certainly would appreciate Hatikvah opening their school in their proposed site. I haven't heard of any effort on the part of the Township council to bring in any industrial rateables on that site.

Can someone please verify; I heard that Hughes, a Republican, who supports Charter Schools, was at the first Hatikvah lottery doing the picks from the basket and posing for photos.

Another question, did it look like Wendell was sleeping? Watching on TV he looked that way. At least I was able to hear his issue about the possibility that the existence of a school could thwart a future plan by someone down the street to expand. You think the town took that into account when a developer built that strip mall right in front of Irwin School? Better yet, someone complained the street was too noisy for a school since there is this "fantastic" amount of traffic? Ever go to Lawrence Brook school? The Turnpike noise is a great background for kids learning!

I have kids attending east Brunswick public schools, which are indeed excellent. But I am still glad I have a choice of where to send my children. The state approved the charter school which withstood all the wasteful appeals filed against it. This is just a last ditch tactic to postpone the plans to move these deserving kids into a better facility, in hopes that Hatikvah caves in. It's a form of grown up legal bullying.

I was reading that Hughes is fresh off the EB School Board of Education. . .that is a conflict of interest. This is supposed to be a hearing to fairly hear both sides. He clearly still has the same opinions as the school board and didn't care what the facts are. He is against Hatikvah and showed his true colors at this meeting.

Are there really only 2 opponents/objectors of the charter school? If yes, the TC is doing an awful job. You can't govern by the isolated squeaky wheels. Obviously, almost everyone in town is fine with the school.

I am a former resident of EB and know this area well. I see no reason/problem for a small school being set-up on this road. It is little used and generates little activity/traffic. I assume folks that are against the school just hate charter schools in general.

EstersMom - you are greatly misinformed and obviously have an agenda. The numbers on the website are incorrect as evidenced by a supposed 0 percent attendance rate. Ms. Cornavaca and Ms. Rampolla have an anticharter school agenda and the zoning board appeal is a tactic to delay the opening of a beautiful new building. The charter is valid, the school is here to stay. This article has to do with zoning board decision and township council decisions, who should stick to land use issues. If you went to the meeting, you would know that despite admonishment of the town attorney to stick with the legal issues at hand, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Wendell (who slept through part of the hearing) focused on issues they had no legal business focusing on, exhibiting prejudicial behavior.

In addition - for out-of-town students, those municipalities pay for them. And by the way, 10% of the money other municipalities pay, go to the EB board of Ed, and not to the school.

These are areas never meant for schools yet this seems to be the big thing these days,converting industrial buildings over to this use. It goes on all over the state.

If you want a school..build one in a proper place it is that simple.

I walk this street a lot to get to the store or post office. I'm cognizant of the fact that I'm in a commercial/industrial zone with no sidewalks. I'm careful not to listen to my Ipod because I need to hear cars and trucks approaching from behind. At the very least, please put sidewalks in and find a way to make sure that kids can't loiter near the drainage basin across the street. Nothing about this street suggests that it's an appropriate place for a school that way it is. Make the argument all you want that other schools in town could be in a better location.

My error. The EB township keeps 10% of the $ allocated per EB student, not the out-of-town students. The other towns keep back approximately the same percentage. Therefore, the school must do more with less.

ChoiceInEd, you still don’t seem to understand school financing. So, I’d ask my original question of you, again: Is the school purposely misleading parents or are you making this up as you go along?
That 10% amount does not exist. The amount that our town is forced to pay to Hatikvah is based on an average per pupil spending, with students who cost $90K to educate and students who cost $5k to educate factored in to that number, with the caveat that Hatikvah does not have to share in the cost of educating students in town who have special needs and cost $90k to educate, as mandated by the thorough and efficient clause of NJ’s Constitution.
There is no corollary savings for the district when a child leaves to attend a charter school. That is why East Brunswick was forced to cut programs and make sports and other activities so expensive, because the money left to Hatikvah with no savings for the district.
If Hatikvah closed tomorrow, the roughly 100 East Brunswick students could be reabsorbed into the district schools with almost no cost to the district – And, that 2 Million dollars that the district is forced to give Hatikvah could be used for property tax relief or be used to reinstate the programs we originally lost due to the charter.