Letter: Local Voices Need to Be Heard by Education Chief on Charter Schools

Last week the sent a letter to Commissioner Cerf, Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education, expressing its opposition to the two proposed charter schools.  The NJDOE now has 90 days to respond to the proposed charter applications.

Commissioner Cerf, who has ultimate discretion as to whether the applications will be granted, has suggested that he will consider the positions of the citizens in the affected communities.

THAT IS WHERE WE NEED YOUR HELP.  While at this time we might not be able to vote on any proposed charters, it appears that our voices will be heard and WE ALL NEED TO SPEAK UP! 

We have until early September to reach out to the Commissioner and the Governor and demand that we be heard.  Many members of our community have already contacted the Commissioner, our and other elected representatives.  We must continue to do this.  We need to fight every day over the next couple of months to save our public schools.

Our community has come together and is united; we do not want or need these schools!  Please help us by writing to Commissioner Cerf and Governor Christie. Their addresses are listed below. You can also sign the petition against these two proposed schools, http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nocharterschool/.  While a copy of the petition has already been submitted to Commissioner Cerf, we are updating him weekly with any new signatures.  To date we have close to 700 signatures.

The more letters and phone calls the NJDOE and the Governor receive each day, the greater our impact will be on their final decision. 

We have organized a letter writing campaign and invite you to join us; we will write the letters for you.  All you have to do is sign your name and mail the letters; of course you are welcome to write your own letters as well.  We will have a new letter every week. If you are interested in taking part in our campaign you can email us at saveourschoolsLivingston@gmail.com. Please include your name and your email address. 
 
Thank you,

Sage Blinderman

Dena Dias  

Jolie Feldman

Neeli Margolis
 

• Chris Cerf

Acting Commissioner

commissioner@doe.state.nj.us

New Jersey Department of Education 100 River View Plaza
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Telephone (609) 292-4450
Fax (609) 777-4099

• Governor Chris Christie

jeanne.ashmore@gov.state.nj.us (Christie’s Director of Constituent Relations)
609-292-6000
Office of the Governor
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625