Charter Schools: Councils Talk Tough

Millburn Mayor Sandy Haimoff is sending a letter to the Commissioner of Education on Wednesday, calling charter schools a detriment to thriving school systems like Millburn’s.

“It is my understanding that charter schools were established to help districts that have failing schools,” the letter states. “Millburn is not such a district and drawing from its student pool is the beginning of the erosion of public education.”

In Livingston, charters schools played a prominent role during the public comment portion of the town council’s meeting on Monday night.

Earlier, the five council members a special 5-on-5 meeting with the Board of Education on charter schools.

The debate continued at the township meeting when Anita Gordon, a Livingston resident and former educator, urged the council as a governing body, to make their voices heard and take an official position on charter schools.

"I think we need to let our state government know that this law must be rewritten and changed,” Gordon told the council during the public forum. She also noted that this law was created before people knew of the impact on property taxes.

The Millburn Township Committee took that step on Tuesday night. Mayor Haimoff read aloud her letter to Acting Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf and received approval from the rest of the committee to send it today, Wednesday, May 18.

In the letter, Haimoff says that the proposed Mandarin-immersion schools – Hanyu International Academy Charter School and Hua Mei Charter School – would be a detriment to the Millburn’s public school system.

“My objections are not solely based on the fact that there will be adverse funding implications to the public school system,” she wrote. “A Charter School, such as these two, fosters segregation rather than diversity, understanding and an appreciation for the culture of others. Supporting schools that are created to meet the needs of a select cultural group starts a bad precedence.”

That’s the tough stance Livingston residents on Monday asked their elected officials to take.

Ray Leibman said the council needs to take a position on charter schools even if does not collectively see eye-to-eye. "You're our city council and you have a five-member team -- you can still vote,” said Leibman.

Councilman Gary Schneiderman pointed out that he didn't believe that it was possible for the council to come to a unanimous stance due to the fact that one member of the council, Deborah Shapiro, is a founding member of the Hanyu International Academy Charter School. 

Shapiro did not speak publicly on Monday at either of the forums on the topic of charter schools. But she has written about charters in her blog called “From the Desk of Deborah Shapiro." Parents, she says, “have the ultimate say in the type and quality of education that their children receive” ( blog post dated May 6.) In addition, Shapiro wrote that she along with her husband did an extensive amount of research and attended numerous rallies and educational meetings before taking a stance on the issue.

On Monday, Mayor Rudy Fernandez said, "Charter schools serve a purpose, but I would not be in favor of one in Livingston unless the voters wanted in.”

Deputy Mayor Stephen Santola affirmed his position against the creation of charter schools in Livingston and added that he was not in favor of any school that was specific to certain ethnicities. Earlier in the evening, at the 5-on-5 attended by about 60 Livingston residents, Santola said: “I am against any charter school in Livingston that we don’t all vote on. I’m particularly against any charter school that attempts to serve any single ethnic, religious or cultural segment of our population.”

The charter school issue is proving to be a divisive issue that crosses party lines, as evidenced by statements made by residents Monday at the 5-on-5 and by the Republican Councilman Michael Rieber.

Patch asked Rieber for comment following the town council meeting to clarify his position on charter schools. In an email received on Tuesday, Reiber said:  

“Upon first hearing about the two charter schools applications, I have to admit I knew very little about them. I did my homework, asked the questions and it is quite clear that even if I was not a fiscal conservative, and even if my concerns were not for the taxpayers of Livingston, with what I consider to be a very unique, informed, and highly educated community, there is no place or need for any charter school.”

“I am very much opposed to the idea and the possible divisive nature of just even having the discussion. There may be a place for charter schools where the system is failing the children, but that is not Livingston,” Rieber continued. “We have a terrific Board of Education and even better schools. I hope the State Board of Education rejects the applications and we can return to the business of educating our children and keeping Livingston affordable and a wonderful place to live and raise a family."

At the conclusion of Monday’s meeting, Santola and Schneiderman said they would not be opposed to voting on a resolution at a future meeting to take an official stance on the issue. The council meets next Monday, May 23 for a conference meeting, which will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Read the full story on Millburn’s Township Council decision to write to the Department of Education and the full text of its letter in

Laura Griffin reported from Millburn.