How many of those 152 students are going to walk the to the pizza and bagel shops a quarter mile up the street without any sidewalks?

I agree 100% with Douglas. The quicker hatikvah moves into its new location- the better for the town and its businesses as well as for Real Estate Values in that area. The school seems to be doing overwhelmingly well with enrollment and with outcomes. Lets not punish for having to many students and not give Hatikvah the opportunity to move into a safer and more spacious space.

Why is everyone dancing around the 5000 lb gorilla in the room? Hatikvah is a rather thinly veiled segregated school using public funds for its operation.

Why would the zoning board just hand this school another use variance when they are already in violation of an existing one? Sounds like a sweetheart deal to me.

Re the 5000 lb gorilla- As I understand it, the original idea of charter schools was to offer parents an alternative in communities where the public schools were FAILING to educate their children. This would not apply to East Brunswick, where the public school system is excellent. The justification for Hativah is that it offers immersion in the Hebrew language, and the public schools do not. Why has the study of Hebrew or any other language become a right that entitles Hatikvah and other charter schools with a similar mission to public funding? Historically parents who wanted their children to learn Hebrew paid to send them to Hebrew School after regular school hours. Greek parents had the option of sending their children to Greek school, at their own expense. And Chinese parents paid to send their children to schools where they could learn Chinese.
The current trend favoring charter schools whose mission is to serve a few, will utimately weaken our public schools and open the door to public funding of for-profit schools, which will be run as corporations- highly paid CEOs and non-union teachers who will be paid rock-bottom salaries. And the education of most children will suffer.

The school's spokesperson claims they are working with the township engineer to fix this, and yet the town engineer reports in the article that the school has not even contacted him. Which is it?

Or are they just working though their attorney who, as I understand it, represents both the school as a private client and also represents the town's planning board? Something stinks here.

I personally did not enroll my child in hativah because I felt that learning hebrew would not benefit them in the future but for parents who have no problem with hebrew, they should have that choice. Studies have shown that learning other languages does improve children's education (part of why european schools do better than americans). Its not like public school is not teaching foreign languages, my daughter is in her 8th year of spanish in the HS. Their curriculum is also a better way of learning for children that do not function well in a traditional setting. They lay out several methods of learning say math and the child chooses which method they prefer. It's an excellent program. The personnel were so welcoming and kind at an open house I attended and I saw all races and cultures that attend the school. For someone whose kids do fine in EB public schools, I actually like giving the parents the power to choose where and how their kids learn.

The space they are in right now is perfectly safe although perhaps a little cramped. Otherwise are you suggesting we shut down the magnificent Presbyterian Church that has been housing Hatikvah? The school would have bben moved to its new location already if it hadnt been stopped in its tracks by another of the many. many frivilour lawsuits it has encountered. This one brought by two anti-union activits living in the twon shilling for another organization that is trying to break the backs of choice and anti-union charters in New Jersey.
But enough on that.

This is obviously a political discussion on whether or not you agree with choice and charters schools be they in troubled districts or "supposedly" good schoold districts. Its also about offering your children the types of educational opportunites not usually available through regualr public schools -like holdiing teachers and administrators accountable for the type of learning taking place in the classrooms without the unions putting a block in your way.
Some people believe in strong teachers unions. They have every right too- its America- by all means send your children to union schools. Some don't-that is one of the many reasons charters were developed and not just for troubled districts. Many are in highly successful districts throughout the USA.
As to enrollment. It doesn't appear that enrollment is suffring at ll. The school continues to flourish with students from EB and the local area despite enormous pressuer from outside agitators to destroy it. It is the David against many Goliaths who seek its ruin. Although a very diverse school with many different ethnicities represented- maybe somebody much bigger than the New Jersey Teachers Union and EB Board of Ed is watching out for this little school.

Sorry about the typos- typed on an i phone very fast. I'm sure the kids in hatikvah will not make these mistakes in any language.

I'm sure Hatikvah is an excellent school. But that it is supported by taxpayers instead of the parents who choose to enroll their children seems wrong to me. There have always been private schools as an alternative to public education. And parents do have the choice to opt out of the public schools and enroll their children elsewhere- a Montessori school, for example.(Families without the means to pay for a private school can apply for loans and scholarships). But unlike Hatikvah, Montessori is not being supported by taxpayers. And I do not see the difference that makes one a taxpayer-supported charter school and the other a private school .supported by tuition payments and private fundraising..

Myrna,

The parents of the students of Hatikvah are taxpayers as well. They just want choice, accountability and a different type of education for their children. Not everyone in America wants the exact same things for their children that is what vouchers and charter schools are all about. Freedom and you rability to say where your tax dollars go. That is the American way.

na,

The parents of the students of Hatikvah are taxpayers as well. They just want choice, accountability and a different type of education for their children. Not everyone in America wants the exact same things for their children that is what vouchers and charter schools are all about. Freedom and you rability to say where your tax dollars go. That is the American way.

Hatikvah is NOT in violation of the variance. From a letter from the Principal, "The Board of Trustees and I are confident that we have not violated the variance. The variance clearly states our enrollment for the previous school year (2011-2012) and states that we grow by 44 students each year. It also states that we will have two third grade classrooms consisting of 22 students each in the trailers this year which we do. It does not state our 2012-2013 total school enrollment."

Also, Hatikvah is not just about Hebrew. I chose it for my child because of the Inquiry Based philosophy. The Hebrew is just a bonus. I wouldn't have cared what language they are teaching, or no second language (although learning any second language has been shown to be beneficial)

BTW - I am also a teacher and a union member and I do NOT find any conflict with sending my child to a charter school if it meets our needs. I would like to see charter school employees have the right to organize, as I would advocate for the employees in any industry but I don't see these issues as connected.

There are many students who are not Jewish, and the thinly veiled anti-Semitism often seen in the comments on these articles is very offensive.

Stacy, this isn't the first time the school has LIED to parents or perspective parents. Eventually they will get caught. In fact, by clicking on your name, I can see you were one of the people in another post perpetuating the lie about the school moving by September. So, I know you are aware of it and you should really take a look at your conscience. I called the planning department back in July, at the recommendation in your post and they said the earliest the school would be there is January. You are either in on it or you are one of the parents who believes the stories they feed you. I feel bad for the children of the parents that fall for this stuff, because it is really not their fault. I was at the open house where they showed everyone the blueprints for the next school year and I almost fell for it myself.

Michael,
Only in recent years is this the American way. Charter schools began as an experiment to offer an alternative to public schools which failed to educate their children, not schools which failed to offer certain languages or programs which some parents desired. The parents of children who attend religious schools also pay taxes, but their school tuition is not subsidized by taxpayers...at least not yet. But that seems to be the direction your arguments about freedom and choice and the American way are taking us. And this line of thinking - vouchers-will inevitably allow private corporations and their for- profit chains of schools to get their hands on the goldmine of taxpayer money to the detriment of our public school system and most of our children..

Michael, I believe you when you say that Hatikvah offers your child a wonderful educational experience. But voting is also the American way. And in the future I hope to have the opportunity to vote "no" on the issue whether public school funds can be diverted to subsidize private schools, religious schools, and charter schools.

When I said they were moving then, I did believe it. I know that anytime there are big projects like this, there are often delays. I am disappointed by them. I was hoping the school would be able to move by November. I don't know if the people challenging this are responsible (even in part) for the delays, but it is frustrating when our own neighbors are possibly making this take longer. I don't think they are lying to us, but I hope the renovations to the building will be done in a reasonable amount of time.

Oh, and Anne - I looked back at the thread you were referring to. Just so you know (because it is hard to tell) the first comment was from another Stacy who also has a daughter in my daughter's class. All I said was that there was nothing in the article, at that time, that indicated the change in the opening date. Since they let people have the same log in name, it is sometimes hard to tell who is talking - although I do agree with everything the other Stacy said about the school staying in regular contact with the parents whenever there is new information.

It's understandable about the confusion. It is odd that they permit more than one person to have the same "name". I really do appreciate your concern, but I have been very happy with the education my daughter is receiving. The teachers have been wonderful and my daughter is excelling. There is a new principal this year with excellent credentials, and I have really high hopes. I really don't think anyone is being deliberately dishonest, maybe just overly optimistic. You are at least the most genuine person I have seen on here. You seem actually concerned, not hateful like some others.

Liti - Research has shown that learning ANY second language has benefits, but as I stated, the language is NOT why I chose the school. I am a strong believer in inquiry based or problem based learning. I did not see enough of this going on in the East Brunswick school my children were attending, so that was my main motivation. As for the phrase thinly-veiled, my use of it was intentional - echoing the other previous use of it.

If another parent commented that THEIR reason for choosing Hatikvah was because they could not afford a school like Schechter, then that is THEIR choice. It had no bearing on mine. If you were to see the school in action, you would see that it is like a "mini united nations". There are children of many races and religions. I think it is a good cross section of our community, and I love the diversity.

I'm sorry if you were offended. While not everyone opposed to Hatikvah is anti-Semitic, it is true that many comments posted here are.

It is very unfortunate but Principal Drewitz had some health issues that caused her departure.

This new film says it all-"Won't Back Down"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvYPxZpstkE

Ah Hah! Thank you Freddy. Our Mr Goldstein has been outed! He posts at length about The American Way. But he supports the election of Romney- the candidate who has promised to cut more taxes for the rich, turn Medicare into Vouchercare, privatize Social Security- a man who in his own words has shown contempt for 47% of the American public...seniors, veterans, the disabled, students. Is it the American way when Mr Romney avoids taxes by stashing money offshore? The problem with Obama? Mr G is upset because the President has failed to show "proper respect" for the prime minister of a foreign country (Netanyahu). Perhaps President Obama is putting the interests of of America first. Now that's the American way!

I am for choice- Vouchers, Charters, teachers, administrators, a non-socialist nation,- a nation where Americans can make decisions for themselves and do not have to have the Government over them telling them what to do. Sort of like the writers of the US Constitution wanted. Not for name calling and hatred as the prior posters seem to be for. I am for a proud, brave America not the one where we fear individuals who will stop Free Speech by litigation, or spy on other people, or drown out mothers and fathers who want what's best for children by protecting antiquated systems that no longer work. In Illinois more money will be spent by the State funding the pension plans of teachers in 2016 than will go to schools and children. In New Jersey in 2018 the same thing will happen. This is your America- not mine.

Freddy- You are the one who appears quite delusional and insane. If you read Mr. Kessler in the Washington Post a very liberal paper mind you- he appears to agree with everything I say although through a liberal bias. Maybe you need to go back to school and learn reading comprehension again. I can suggest some good charter schools for you to attend. Nothing in the commercial is a lie or even close. he may not agree with my opinions but Freddy that is quite a different thing than lying. I suggest you go to the dictionary to comprehend the definition of the word lie. All the best- Romney 2012.

For Myrna- the self hater.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgvMGLdc908&feature=youtube_gdata_player

I've been following Michael Hill Goldstein's comments with increasing bewilderment. His blatant mis-telling of American history ("Choice" is not an American educational tradition--publicly funded schools open to all Americans is), his weird insistence that the President of the United States should genuflect to the corrupt Prime Minister of a small Middle-Eastern country, and his increasingly desperate debating tactics, including calling everyone with a Jewish-sounding name who disagrees with him "self-hating." But with his last few posts Mr. Goldstein has made the situation clear: He is simply a shill for the Romney campaign--nothing less, and certainly nothing more. Like his idol, Bibi Netanyahu, and unlike the vast majority of American Jews, Mr. Goldstein has made a big bet on the wrong (dressage) horse, and the prospect of upcoming defeat has made him more desperate and intemperate.

I thought Michael Hill Goldstein lost a lot of credibility after he had been seriously carpetbombing every article on Patch about Hatikvah with criticisms of anybody who would oppose the school while just doing essentially the same thing for the minority pro-Hatikvah crowd. I guess the door only swings one way in his house. I think he just blew up the remaining bit of his credibility when he acknowledged he's the guy in Freddy's video who is all about political propaganda and clearly not just supporting one side, but has invested himself in the agenda. It's even more funny that in the last article about a couple of women raising issues with Hatikvah, he called them political shills for the union and public schools and wanted their background exposed on the website, but it took another smart poster like Freddy to bring out his political motives and agendas. HYPOCRITE!

The issue I have is that no matter what the school does, no one is happy. When people thought enrollment was too low, they sued. Now they think enrollment is too high, so they are suing. They don't like the school being in its current location, so they sue. They don't want the school to move to a new location, so they are suing. They don't want too many kids from East Brunswick to go there. Now they complain there are too many out of towners going. It is bewildering why so many people who have no interest in sending their children to this school are investing so much time and energy in fighting it. Can't you just accept that what is right for some people is not right for everyone and make your own choice and move on?

This is NOT instead of Hebrew School. My daughter still attends religious school for her Jewish education. There is NO religious education of any kind at Hatikvah. I do not know why people cannot seem to understand this. I still pay plenty for her Jewish education. This is PUBLIC school for secular education where they happen to have Hebrew Language instruction. Why is this considered different than a school that teaches Spanish, French, German, Chinese or any other language??

Chinese and the other languages you mention are spoken by many millions of people around the world and knowing any of them is an asset to anyone. Hebrew is spoken by only about 7 million people, all of them speak at least one other language that is more widely used. (not including students of Hebrew schools who learn how to read so the can celebrate a Bar Mitzvah). There are more speakers of Zulu worldwide. How many of Hatikva parents would send their kids to a Zulu immersion school? If looked at the registration list when Hatikva was founded you know that the majority of kids came from Jewish private schools, not from the diverse and excellent EB public schools.