By Stephanie Vaccaro, Staff Writer
A group identified only as “residents of South Brunswick, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro school districts” posted an online petition opposing the Princeton International Academy Charter School.
From June 13 to 19, 1,215 signatures were added to the list. However, it is unclear who are residents of the areas affected as many listed neither their names nor hometowns, whether participants signed more than once, or why no signatures were added after June 19.
The petition reads: As residents of South Brunswick, Princeton and West Windsor-Plainsboro school districts, we the undersigned ask that you take into account widespread community opposition and turn down any applications for an additional planning year or a new charter from the Princeton International Academy Charter School.
Princeton Regional School Superintendent Judy Wilson was aware of the petition but had not read it.
”I am glad that taxpayers are eager for their voices to be heard and for their votes to matter,” said Ms. Wilson.
”At this point, I am not confident that it will open,” said Ms. Wilson. “There is still no zoning approval and State Dept. of Education deadlines are soon.”
Parker Block, co-founder and spokesperson of the school, responded to the petition and the wider opposition the charter school has faced.
”It is to be expected that when something innovative is being introduced, there will be some who fear change and want to defend the status quo,” said Mr. Block. “We suspect, however, that many parents and community members are basing their opposition to PIACS on three incorrect assumptions:
”Charter Schools are only for failing districts.”
”The intent of the law is quite clear, and even the teachers union recognizes that charters are intended to introduce innovation to improve quality in all areas of public education,” said Mr. Block.
”Our schools are excellent. Programs like these are not necessary.”
”School administrators are held accountable to what goes on within the state of New Jersey,” said Mr. Block. “But most students will not have the luxury of competing only with people who live between Mahwah and Cape May. Their competition in college and the work force will be global. So they must be prepared to meet international standards of excellence.”
”We cannot afford this now. Budgets are too tight.”
”We understand that there are entrenched parochial interests who are determined to defend the status quo,” said Mr. Block. “There are also those who are simply afraid of the changes the global economy is forcing upon us. There will always be a few whose attitudes cannot be changed. But we hope and expect that over time, most of those who are currently opposed to PIACS will keep an open mind and take some time to get better informed.”
To school officials who feel the opening of this school will negatively impact their already tight budgets Mr. Block said, “The Interdistrict School Choice Program provides the remedy for the ‘lost revenue’ of students who leave the district. This program establishes the same ‘money follows the child’ funding mechanism for all public schools in New Jersey, not just charters.”
”The larger issue, however, is that school districts around the country are showing the way to make innovative programs economically viable is to offer them on a larger scale (across multiple districts),” said Mr. Block. “Our districts administrators are not doing nearly enough to share services and consolidate. This is what PIACS does: the school is open to students from multiple school districts. Many advocates of school reform point to the inefficient economics of 580 small school districts in New Jersey as a major hurdle to improving quality.”
Mr. Block also pointed to the neurological studies that cite the cognitive benefits of proficiency in a second language.
PIACS has an approved application and we are looking to complete all requirements of the Dept. of Education in order to receive the final charter, which would then be valid for 4 years, so that the school can open in September, said Mr. Block. A temporary location is to be decided. The long-term location will hopefully be 12 Perrine Road in South Brunswick.
The web address for the petition is: www.thepetitionsite.com/1/no-piacs.
