INTERDISTRICT SCHOOL CHOICE: Englewood's Diabolical Albatross

Englewood Residents consider well when reading this opinion and this article from NorthjerseyDotcom.

NJ Limits its School Choice Program
http://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-limits-its-school-choice-program-1.1262801

We celebrate Juneteenth in a town
where African Americans
have little freedom.

Opinion
http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-editorials/school-options-1.1263420

FACT

http://www.northjersey.com/news/enrolling-outsiders-can-gain-lose-funds-for-school-districts-1.355392#f1dd8d2224

Englewood's DMHS is a chronically failing school. It has been designated a Focus School. Why are students from successful districts choosing to attend our failing high school?

Unfortunately Englewood chose to use the School Choice option to do the exact opposite of the Supreme Court order that originated the program in this town. It is remarkable how folks will twist this situation. Manchester Regional did not create a completely separate school on its high school campus. They did not create a model that cannot be sustained by the taxpayers. In Manchester Regional's Educational Model Choice students are integrated into the general student population. Bergenfield Choice students and all others across the state are NOT used to foster Academic Segregation as the A@E program does.

Yes, in the year 2014 adults are calling for segregation in the public schools and in Englewood, NJ, their demands are being met every single day. In Englewood, School Choice is a monstrous albatross that is fast sucking away the lifeblood of an entire school district. School Choice students are separated from the general population. The school day is extended in order to service out of district students, all clubs and activities are out of reach of the majority of Englewood native students because of the schedule.

 For instance, let us take 2 examples: Native Englewood students not in the famed A@E Program that benefits from School Choice.

1. She is an artist and excels at Ceramics. The extended day makes it impossible for this student to participate unless she hangs around for an hour and waits until 4 pm.

2. She is a singer and has excelled in Chorus, but cannot participate because of the extended day situation.In all other School Choice Models the day ends at the same time for all students. 

When the Academy started, there were over 50 after school clubs and activities available to all

We celebrate something we do not have with expensive
Carnival Rides and Parades.

students. That ended in the space of a summer. We, the parents had no knowledge that this would happen.I was here and had a child accepted into this elitist program. I witnessed first hand the segregation that most of the town is not even aware exists. We have been fighting for 12 years to change this situation. 

Manchester Regional and Bergenfield are examples of the good that School Choice may do. Englewood is a perfect example of the evil the School Choice Program may bring when controlled by politicians being handled by Special Interest Groups. 

I applaud this new look at School Choice. I call for an assessment of all School Choice in the hopes that the Model that Englewood has adopted will be forced to model itself after the successful ones. 

They need to change. In the 12 years that A@E has existed, there has been no change. The Academy Senate rejects change. They reject STEM education when the rest of the world embraces it. Look closely at what was originally intended for this program and one sees the seeds of STEM planted and ignored for 12 years. There is no growth, there is stagnation. There is not enough money to finance stagnation. What is the old saying, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". In Englewood, the original identity of the town has been all but erased. it has been erased so much so that it is entirely impossible to find the word Englewood anywhere in the North building of DMHS. Yet, the program which swallows up our very traditions carry the word proudly. All programs should be assessed as to whether they are sustainable and serving the town in which they sit. I applaud Commissioner Hespe in his meek attempt at rectifying a situation that is damaging Public Education. 

Why, for instance, would a student leave Fort Lee School District to go to the Bergenfield School District? Yeah, think on that one. 

This homey imagery seems to have  been abandoned
for the glitz.

While you ponder that, ponder this also. $10,500 dollars per School Choice Student is all Englewood gets. The cost to educate each student in Englewood is now up to over $22,000. Where is the profit? Who is paying the extra money? Add to that the fact that some of your well loved politicians made a backroom deal based on a handshake in 2002 that made Englewood Cliff's students part of School Choice. I graduated DMHS in 1969. Some of you graduated prior to that. I ask you, where did Englewood Cliff"s students attend high school? For those of you who arrived here in the last 15 years or so. They attended DMHS.

If you dig a bit further, you will find that circa 1975. the town of Englewood was thrown into a panic because of the murder of a white female school teacher. Ironically enough, she taught Math and tutored many Englewood Youth outside of school. White Flight began with a vengeance. The rest is history. Regardless, of the denial, Englewood has not been the same since. Englewood students, especially the males have been demonized since the incidents of 1975 - till now.

For 12 years the architects of this Albatross have refused State Mandates to change. They will

"We are who we Are!"
The most powerful words uttered by
an Englewood School Board Member.
George Garrison III

undoubtedly do the same if not forced to comply.

NEVER FORGET.

SCHOOL CHOICE IN ENGLEWOOD IS NOT A GIFT.

IT IS A CURSE,

BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT HAS BEEN TWISTED.

UNRAVEL THE MESS.

BLOW AWAY THE SMOKE, 

BREAK THE SHACKLES

LOOK AWAY FROM THE OVER SEERS WHO DO THE WORK OF THE MASSA

FREE FUTURE GENERATIONS.