TUSCAN PTA PUSHING AGAINST CHARTER SCHOOL

Tuscan PTA followed Superintendent Brian Osborne's recent opposition letter to the state about the charter school that would cost US about $1 million, with this letter to parents:

Dear Tuscan Families, This note is an update on the petitions to express opinions on the charter school application in our district and to provide you with information to make informed decisions.  The text below is from our PTA President's Council.   If you would like to discuss this further or have questions regarding the PTA President's Council meeting please contact me. Sharon Huetz PTA President-Elect ------------------------------------------------------------------------------  December 15, 2011 Dear Community Members, Our petition opposing the Hua Mei Charter School received more than 500 signatures in less than 24 hours. If you haven't signed it and are worried about the financial impact a charter school would have on our already strapped school budget, you can find it here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/somsdcharterconcerns2/ A decision is expected from the State by January 15th. It is estimated that this school, which is 1 of 17 charter schools still in the running for state approval, might cost our district $600,000 in its first year of operation, with that number increasing every year as the school grows and adds grade levels. We also urge you to email Acting Commissioner Cerf and Governor Christie.  This is a crucial time (decisions will be made on the charter reapplications in the next couple of weeks) and even a short email expressing your feelings about the Hua Mei Charter School is very important. If you believe that communities should make the decision about whether charters open in their boundaries, then also let them know that you strongly support the Charter Reform bills that are currently stalled in the Senate. You can email Acting Commissioner Cerf at this address: commissioner@doe.state.nj.us and you can call by using this number: Phone:  609-292-4450 Here is contact info for Governor Christie: 609-292-6000 or  http://www.nj.gov/governor/contact Additionally, a rally is scheduled for Friday, December 16th between 11 am and noon in Trenton. Many districts who are fighting charters will be there. If you'd like more information click this link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2814547608597&set=o.241786522542296&type=1&theater If you need more background information you can see the Presidents' Council letter to the community from earlier this week: http://maplewood.patch.com/articles/op-ed-pta-presidents-council-weighs-in-on-charter-school-application You can also refer to Superintendent Osborne's letter to the state opposing the charter: http://maplewood.patch.com/articles/op-ed-osborne-s-letter-to-education-commish-on-charter-application It is a busy time of the year but we only have a couple of weeks to voice our opinion on this issue. If you are concerned about the impact that a charter school will have on the educational experience of our district's 6,500 students, please take a few minutes to sign the petition and send a couple of emails. Sincerely, Cecelia Cancellaro and Suzanne Turner Co-Presidents South Orange Maplewood Presidents' Council