Charter School Resolution Stalls in South Orange

Citing concern about becoming involved in board of education policy, the South Orange Board of Trustees decided, by consensus, not to act on the school district’s proposal to support two resolutions already adopted by the SOMSD. However, that didn’t stop discussion of potential impacts of aJutta Gossner-Smith and Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, addressed the board during public comment.  (A related story will be posted later today.)

On passed two resolutions related to charter schools.

• Res. 2757 authorizing the superintendent to send a recommendation against the approval of the  and Rita Owens charter schools to the the State Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf; and
• Res. 2759 in support of the , calling for local voters to have a voice in deciding the fate of charter schools in their districts, if those districts are predominantly funded by local taxes.

Superintendent of Schools Brian Osborne and Board of Education President Beth Daugherty asked the Maplewood Township Committee and the South Orange Board of Trustees to support those resolutions, arguing that the two proposed charter schools would have a harmful economic — and ultimately educational — impact on the school district and that charter school law constituted a lack of control for local voters and elected officials over their own tax dollars.

The resolutions were first brought to the trustees on May 23, when the consensus was that the group needed more time to discuss and consider.  Maplewood officials reached a similar conclusion, and chose to consider drafting their own resolution.

Last night, a number of trustees offered opinions that this was a board of education matter.

“Ultimately,” said Michael Goldberg, “This is a board of education issue. It’s their policy.”

Mark Rosner agreed, noting that he prefers that the trustees “not get involved in policy decision at the board of education.”

Howard Levison expressed support for the notion of teaching and learning languages, but considered the proposed school “an alternative to a private school.”

Deborah Davis Ford spoke twice on the matter, once during discussion and once in response to the founders’ presentation. Davis Ford described herself as “deeply concerned” about “funds being removed from the public school system.”

The board determined not to take the resolution further.