The King's Bay YM-YWHA and Trump Village West - Community Carnival, May 19, 2013

HLA Withdraws from Marine Park School


by on May 29th, 2009

We haven’t covered the controversy over the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School (HLA) very much these last few weeks, largely because there has been some great work by other sites who have been able to attend the meetings. But we thought we’d take the time to announce that Lew Fidler’s office has sent out an e-mail saying that the HLA has chosen to withdraw its petition to be placed inside Marine Park J.H.S. 278. This info comes in from Mardie Sheiken-Henry via Facebook.

I believe charter schools in general are a bad deal. Their main function is to funnel much needed money out of the public system towards private, less accountable interests. But regardless of where you stand on the charter school debate, the situation with HLA and J.H.S. 278 was outrageous, and would have been a dangerous precedent allowing charter to rob not just funds from public school children, but also their physical space (necessary, as in the case of 278, for arts and extracurricular programs).

The opponents to the plan brought together the community and did a terrific job displaying their opposition, while (usually) respecting the other side. We commend their efforts.

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  • http://www.risingsun1226.blogspot.com Celeste Leibowitz

    I, too, am glad that the HLA chose to withdraw its request to be placed at JHS 278. To me it seems hypocritical to be taking public money and taking up space in a public school, while choosing to educate kids in a way that differs from the public school system.

    I homeschooled my son for 4 years. During that time we had to pay school taxes, and we made no complaint about this. I did not ask the school system to pay for my son’s lunch, his schoolbooks or his physical education activities. That was all on me.

    Charter schools are private schools and if people want their kids in them, they should be footing the bill, not taxpayers.

  • Happy Parent

    I agree with Celeste’s comments. The other thing is why would you want to mix young children with pre-teens???? That is totally
    idiotic and very wrong. Ms. Berman and Mr. White must have
    received their degrees from a box of CrackerJacks.

    Huge huge thank you to the Marine Park Community who
    came out in FULL FORCE to show their opposition to
    this ridiculous proposal.

    So Mr. White – now that we have room in the school, you can
    approve the high school request.

  • Beg to Differ

    Ms. Berman received her Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia University. Same as Barack Obama.

    As bad as mixing kindergarteners with 13-year-olds, mixing 11-year-olds with 19-year-olds (if IS 278 becomes a grade 6 – 12 HS) is a lot worse.

  • Anonymous

    That’s quite interesting that Marine Park is okay with putting these grades together. Actually, that’s like a big question mark at the end of this whole HLA controversy. A high school in a junior high school? [Just pretend that's a huge question mark.]
    In the same way the community banded together to fight the charter school, it might be useful to fight for another public high school in the area — that is, if it IS truly necessary based on the data and statistics.

  • http://www.risingsun1226.blogspot.com/ Celeste Leibowitz

    I, too, am glad that the HLA chose to withdraw its request to be placed at JHS 278. To me it seems hypocritical to be taking public money and taking up space in a public school, while choosing to educate kids in a way that differs from the public school system.

    I homeschooled my son for 4 years. During that time we had to pay school taxes, and we made no complaint about this. I did not ask the school system to pay for my son’s lunch, his schoolbooks or his physical education activities. That was all on me.

    Charter schools are private schools and if people want their kids in them, they should be footing the bill, not taxpayers.

  • Happy Parent

    I agree with Celeste’s comments. The other thing is why would you want to mix young children with pre-teens???? That is totally
    idiotic and very wrong. Ms. Berman and Mr. White must have
    received their degrees from a box of CrackerJacks.

    Huge huge thank you to the Marine Park Community who
    came out in FULL FORCE to show their opposition to
    this ridiculous proposal.

    So Mr. White – now that we have room in the school, you can
    approve the high school request.

  • Beg to Differ

    Ms. Berman received her Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia University. Same as Barack Obama.

    As bad as mixing kindergarteners with 13-year-olds, mixing 11-year-olds with 19-year-olds (if IS 278 becomes a grade 6 – 12 HS) is a lot worse.

  • Anonymous

    That’s quite interesting that Marine Park is okay with putting these grades together. Actually, that’s like a big question mark at the end of this whole HLA controversy. A high school in a junior high school? [Just pretend that's a huge question mark.]
    In the same way the community banded together to fight the charter school, it might be useful to fight for another public high school in the area — that is, if it IS truly necessary based on the data and statistics.

  • Pingback: Hebrew Charter School Finds Space in Yeshiva | Sheepshead Bay News Blog

  • Givanidubuisson

    wow i wana know how that school is like!

  • Givanidubuisson

    I Go To ShellBank I.S.14!