Township Should Support Charter School

Dear editor, 

I am a property taxpaying resident of East Brunswick and a proud parent of a daughter who is currently attending kindergarten at the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School. Throughout the past few months, I have grown to love the experience and hands on educational programs that the school has offered my daughter. I am astounded by her growth over the past few months and the rapid endorsement of reading and writing skills of a new language. As a proponent of dual language learning, I have been so pleased with her overall progress. It appears very evident to me, as a parent, that the concept of two teachers based in one classroom has allowed her to receive individualized attention and has had a tremendous impact on her overall learning experience. 

The current Hatikvah location has a number of setbacks: 

1. Not enough space for children to grow and experience outdoor actives.
2. Not a great learning environment for children to learn in an ‘open space’ because of trailers with sound travelling to/from all classrooms. This makes learning a challenge and children have a tough time focusing on classroom activities. 

I reside less than a mile away from the new school location on Lexington and have close friends who live across the street from the new Lexington facility, in a safe residential area. I am proud of the housing regulations that East Brunswick has established over the years. I completely trust that if East Brunswick has approved residential complexes across from new school location on Lexington, the new location is SAFE for my 2 children. I have no concerns and completely approve of the new school location. I am a strong proponent of public school choice and would like to see through this challenging experience. 

I am asking that all decisions rendered by our elected officials balance the wants, concerns and needs of ALL taxpaying residents of the East Brunswick School District including residents who choose to send their children to the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School, a public school located in our town. 

I am outraged by the tactics engaged in by the detractors of the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School and I demand that they stop their unprofessional and unethical actions, which make East Brunswick look like a biased, anti-Israel, divided community.

I demand that our local officials stop wasting taxpayers’ dollars fighting the ability of the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School to expand its enrollment and footprint in East Brunswick, when the school has every legal right under State law to do so. Hatikvah uses every dollar it receives from the tax rolls for the education of the children who attend the school. Legal fees paid by Hatikvah to defend itself against the assault on our parents, faculty, students and friends are PRIVATELY FUNDED. Conversely, local taxpayers are paying for all the legal costs associated with the East Brunswick’s unwarranted and vicious attacks on Hatikvah. Legal fees paid by East Brunswick taxpayers to the attorneys hired by the East Brunswick school district are currently over $100,000. This is a waste of taxpayers’ dollars. 

I am outraged that the individuals WE elected to represent ALL of us have chosen to represent a select group of residents when they were hired by us to represent ALL of the residents of East Brunswick.

I am a East Brunswick taxpayer whose property taxes have gone up because money is being spent on this frivolous attack on the Hatikvah International Academy Charter School.

I am outraged that I had to bring this to the attention of our elected officials and residents. It is my sincere hope that we can come together to support all the residents of East Brunswick and their choice of public education. I look forward to a resolution of this unnecessary and divisive dispute. 

Sincerely, 

"A Concerned Resident"