BrianSullivan
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Good ideas never cross burned bridges. Practice unity in our community
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Post by BrianSullivan on Nov 1, 2010 14:07:26 GMT -5
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BrianSullivan
Full Member
Good ideas never cross burned bridges. Practice unity in our community
Posts: 1,041
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Post by BrianSullivan on Nov 4, 2010 12:15:23 GMT -5
Here is the longer article. I hope that this can happen in this town, it will be very good for all of us. newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2010-11-03/Front_Page/Committee_researches_charter_school.htmlSome snippets..... A charter school is a public school that can provide instruction from kindergarten through the12th grade. Charter schools are typically created by parents, teachers, administrators, community leaders or a community organization, according to the Internet website uscharterschools.org. ..............Newman said. “This is why we have reached out to the K-8 Board of Education for a liaison between our group and the schools. We want to work with the public schools for a better education for all of the children of Freehold Borough.” .................The charter school has to be competitive to some extent so that people will want to send their children there,” he said, adding that the charter school would have to mirror the demographics of the borough. Admission to the charter school would not be based on any test scores and would be open to all students. Click on link for full story |
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kvr
Novice
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Post by kvr on Nov 4, 2010 16:14:07 GMT -5
Admittedly I am naive as far as charter schools and how they are funded...and though it is touched upon lightly in the article, I'm not clear on how much of the school is funded by taxpayers. Any enlightenment would be appreciated. Also, I understand that a charter school has to offer something the current public schools do not - I hope more light us shed on this as well. I know a lot of this information is not yet available or known but I do look forward to hearing more. For now I will keep my opinions to myself on this issue until I know more - though, I already have strong feelings about this. So, for now, I, for one, look forward to hearing more about this.
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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 5, 2010 9:20:34 GMT -5
I have to agree with KVR, more information would be great! I too don't know much but would love to learn more about this, maybe Brian or DFX can help us with that!
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dfx
Junior Member
Posts: 221
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Post by dfx on Nov 5, 2010 10:38:26 GMT -5
I have to agree with KVR, more information would be great! I too don't know much but would love to learn more about this, maybe Brian or DFX can help us with that! There is a lot more information to this subject than what appears at first glance. I also know this topic will be debated publicly at an upcoming Board of Education meeting and I will post the time/date when this is occurring. In the meantime, I encourage EVERYONE - especially Mike - to attend this Monday's BoE meeting being held at 7pm at Park Avenue Elementary School. www.freeholdboro.k12.nj.us/191310328103334443/lib/191310328103334443/110810_agenda.pdf
One of the topics for this meeting will be the presentation of the latest AYP test scores... dfx |
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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 5, 2010 10:48:36 GMT -5
I have to agree with KVR, more information would be great! I too don't know much but would love to learn more about this, maybe Brian or DFX can help us with that! There is a lot more information to this subject than what appears at first glance. I also know this topic will be debated publicly at an upcoming Board of Education meeting and I will post the time/date when this is occurring. In the meantime, I encourage EVERYONE - especially Mike - to attend this Monday's BoE meeting being held at 7pm at Park Avenue Elementary School. www.freeholdboro.k12.nj.us/191310328103334443/lib/191310328103334443/110810_agenda.pdf
One of the topics for this meeting will be the presentation of the latest AYP test scores... dfx What were the results Dan? |
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dfx
Junior Member
Posts: 221
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Post by dfx on Nov 5, 2010 12:29:28 GMT -5
There is a lot more information to this subject than what appears at first glance. I also know this topic will be debated publicly at an upcoming Board of Education meeting and I will post the time/date when this is occurring. In the meantime, I encourage EVERYONE - especially Mike - to attend this Monday's BoE meeting being held at 7pm at Park Avenue Elementary School. www.freeholdboro.k12.nj.us/191310328103334443/lib/191310328103334443/110810_agenda.pdf
One of the topics for this meeting will be the presentation of the latest AYP test scores... dfx What were the results Dan? Here we go again... Come to the meeting and find out. dfx (For those unable to attend Monday's meeting, I'm sure the scores will be published shortly after they've been made public at the meeting...) |
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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 5, 2010 13:20:08 GMT -5
What were the results Dan? Here we go again... Come to the meeting and find out. dfx (For those unable to attend Monday's meeting, I'm sure the scores will be published shortly after they've been made public at the meeting...) You are correct Dan, "here we go again!" Again a simple question can't be answered. The results are on line, theres a link on app.com that tells you, thought I could hear it from you though! Moderator's note -- the material here accidentally put MR's response within the quoted material for DFX. I have personally made this error before -- and thought I would correct it. (RK) |
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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 5, 2010 13:23:01 GMT -5
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dfx
Junior Member
Posts: 221
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Post by dfx on Nov 5, 2010 15:28:33 GMT -5
Mike -
I cannot announce the AYP test results for the schools in the Freehold Borough School District until they have been made public. The article you linked does not publish the scores for any of the schools in our district. That said, I do believe people should be held accountable if the test scores are not up-to-par. In my opinion the job of a Board of Education member is two-fold:
1. Ensure ALL taxpayer dollars (of which every unpaid BoE member is a contributor) is spent wisely
2. Ensure kids in our district receive all the tools/opportunities needed to receive a successful & competitive education
I don't think anyone who actually knows our district can say we've been slackers on the first point. Aside from passing a 0% tax/budget increase last year, our Superintendent is paid well-below the state average, we have no assistant Superintendents or Principles, we have less than 20 administrators for a student body of roughly 1400 students, and the district's budget is the second lowest in Monmouth County. (Only behind the Monmouth County Vocational School District.)
Now while it's not the job of a Board of Education member to actually teach the students in the district, it is our job - in my opinion - to hold people responsible if they are not meeting the requirements of their jobs.
dfx
PS.
The opinions expressed above are mine and do not represent that of anyone else on the Freehold Borough School District Board of Education.
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BrianSullivan
Full Member
Good ideas never cross burned bridges. Practice unity in our community
Posts: 1,041
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Post by BrianSullivan on Nov 5, 2010 15:40:46 GMT -5
Wow we are getting off topic. The Ayp test results are an important topic that really deserve their own thread.
Back to the charter school issue.
KVR and Mike, Dan is right, there is a lot more ahead pertaining to the charter school issue. Both of you are correct in having questions. Everybody, including the people exploring this issue have them.
Getting a charter school is not an easy task, is time consuming, and will take some time if it is to happen.
I am ill prepared to go into lengthy debates or discussions, but with what I do know, I am a strong believer that it is a very good idea well worth pursuing for our town. To make a general statement, I think it will be good for parents, property values, and the borough schools. In the future I will lay out my personal reasoning a bit more.
KVR, good to have you on the site, I hope you stick around.
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dfx
Junior Member
Posts: 221
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Post by dfx on Nov 5, 2010 16:23:59 GMT -5
Correction - it looks like the scores HAVE been published already. That said, at first glance I'm disappointed as I assume most others are as well.
(I'm going to caveat my response until I hear from the Superintendent during Monday night's BoE meeting as there may be a reason for these scores. That said, I'm not happy and someone has some explaining to do Monday night...)
dfx
The opinions expressed above are mine and do not represent that of anyone else on the Freehold Borough School District Board of Education.
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Post by ess0350 on Nov 6, 2010 12:33:08 GMT -5
“I am ill prepared to go into lengthy debates or discussions, but with what I do know, I am a strong believer that it is a very good idea well worth pursuing for our town. To make a general statement, I think it will be good for parents, property values, and the borough schools. In the future I will lay out my personal reasoning a bit more.”
I agree Brian, a charter school is an idea worth reviewing and investigating. It is possible a charter school would address some the issues in our local schools in the Boro.
Some parents may opt to send their children to a charter school because of its innovative and novel curriculum, others because of its focus on academic achievement, and still others since it offers a promising alternative to traditional public school.
These are my own thoughts regarding the question of having a charter school in the Boro.
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Post by ess0350 on Nov 6, 2010 12:35:40 GMT -5
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BrianSullivan
Full Member
Good ideas never cross burned bridges. Practice unity in our community
Posts: 1,041
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Post by BrianSullivan on Jan 4, 2011 9:06:18 GMT -5
Part of this thread went off topic, but I would like to continue the charter school discusion here. First, I have no idea if we will ever get a charter school, it is a long and difficult road to bring one in. That said, I am going to better outline some of my reasons for why I support a charter school and believe it is right for Freehold Borough.
I first have to go back and express an opinion I wrote some time ago. I said that part of the key to education success in Freehold Borough is to bring in a non religious private school with vouchers. I wrote that before the charter school issue was active. I said non religious because a Catholic school education is not for everyone. I said private because public school is also not for everyone. I am a firm believer that choice for families and parents is empowerment- something that is lacking in New Jersey.
I also mention a voucher system. When I wrote that I honestly had no idea where the money for that would come from. I wrote it for one purpose only. To ensure that if anything does come to town, ALL children have access. In a state that funds education as we do, which is a class warfare approach, it is too hard for people to afford choice.
With my previous support for vouchers in mind, the charter schools meet the test for accessibility for all children and families. In the event that there are more applicants that seats, there is a lottery system in place. One of the biggest fears that critics have of charter schools is that they will segregate and not represent the demographics of the town. ( I will argue that our schools are loosing diversity and segregating anyway) There are examples out there where it has happened, as well as examples where that started and was reversed. It all goes back to the locals who run the charter school. The decisions and actions surrounding this issue go back to the locals which, again, is a matter of empowerment which is a good thing.
With the above in mind, I have to delve into the number one reason why I believe a charter school is right. There are going to be a lot of people with different views. I think in another thread Dan jokingly mentioned 12 sides. He is probably not far off. I know parents who have kids are going to have a very specific view. They have immediate needs to see education succeed and they are absolutely and one hundred percent correct in those views. This is the demographic who will ask " What about the public schools? They need help now." Charter school or no charter school, the public schools will continue to need help. That help is going to have to come from Trenton, not the local tax payer.
My view is different. I am just a property owner who wants to see our town thrive. I want the best for Freehold. Education is very important for any town. If it is not the most important thing our taxes go to, it is among the top three. Without good schools or at least a good reputation, we are toast. There was a point in Freehold history when private schools were an attraction that brought people here. Lets recapture that good history!
One thing I really like about charter schools is that the school can have a specialized curriculum. Imagine a school with a math/science emphasis? Or a music/arts emphasis? Or any number of things. The bottom line, if done right, it becomes an attraction to this town. As a resident, I support anything that makes this town that much more attractive. I believe a charter school gives us that chance that no public school can.
I also think in terms of education reform in Trenton. I would like to believe that our current governor is going to take that serious and make it reality. If that does happen, Freehold needs to be in the front of the line for those reforms. I will continue to say- our public schools are never going to get the help they need unless there is real, solid reform coming out of Trenton. Charter schools are probably going to be a part of that reform as they move to the suburbs. New Jersey is behind the rest of the nation on this issue. We ( Freehold) need to be a part of that change. AS a matter of fact, we need to be the model for reforms.
The need for reform brings me to another point. Some critics complain that charters are not regulated enough by the state. I say that is a good thing! Yes, it does make it that much more of a gamble, but it is the state that causes our public education woes. Why would we want that with a charter? I say the less the state tangles with the charters the better. We do not need the charters to be a repeat of public education in New Jersey. Charter school success in New Jersey will depend on keeping the educrats out and the NJEA out. The less of those influences, the better.
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dfx
Junior Member
Posts: 221
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Post by dfx on Jan 5, 2011 17:22:48 GMT -5
Despite my best efforts to ensure clarity that previous postings on this site pertaining to our schools reflected my personal opinion and did not represent that of the entire Freehold Borough School District (disclosures at the beginning/end of messages, message postings titled "My opinion: Dan X.", etc.), I have again been advised to cease posting my opinions on this topic.
That said do not take my silence on this matter as not caring or do not be offended if I don't respond to questions via this medium, but please understand the situation. I already get in enough trouble with my letter outreach efforts...
Radio Dan out
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BrianSullivan
Full Member
Good ideas never cross burned bridges. Practice unity in our community
Posts: 1,041
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Post by BrianSullivan on Feb 1, 2011 17:05:42 GMT -5
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