Mischaracterizations and Hyperbole in Hoboken: White Flight? - NO; Bankruptcy? -NO; Economic Segregation- NO...Progress? - You Decide

Stickball in Hoboken

In general, "white flight" is defined as: the departure of whites from places (as urban neighborhoods or schools) increasingly or predominantly populated by minorities. In an interview for Salon.com, a Hoboken Board of Education President and "reform" trustee was quoted as saying “they’re (charter schools) fostering white flight, and they’re bankrupting us.” 

That "reform" trustee is no longer the President of the Hoboken Board of Education in Hoboken and is no longer on the Hoboken Board of Education. On the particular issue of charter schools contributing to "white flight" in the Hoboken School District, the data shows the former "Kids First" trustee was wrong (see Figure 1).  Additionally, on the issue of the charter bankrupting the Hoboken School District, again the data shows the "reform" trustee was also wrong. But, it was not only the particular trustee who was wrong-- it was the entire Hoboken Board of Education "reform" majority who initiated a law suit against an award winning Hoboken charter school. The lawsuit originally sought to reject the renewal of the original charter (its very existence) and to reject the expansion of the school into the middle school grades. 

A number of documented facts: 

1) The charter school has been recognized on two separate occasions in its short history as an exemplary dual language program. 

2) In the most recent PARCC assessment, the charter school was tied for first place among all public and charter school in the State of New Jersey. 

3) The charter school was originally intended to be implemented in the Hoboken Public School but was rejected in 2009 by the same Board majority who initiated and continue the current lawsuit (see Picture 1). 

Picture 1: Hoboken Board of Education lawsuit

4) The percentage of white students in the Hoboken Public Schools have INCREASED from 22% to 33% since the charter school was founded. The percentage of white students in the Hoboken School District has increased from 15% in 2005-06 to 33.2 % in 2015-16 (see Figure 1). 

Figure 1: Percentage of White Students in Hoboken Public Schools
CLICK TO ENLARGE

5) A recent Hoboken Board of Education audit showed a $5,400,000 SURPLUS.

When the percentage of white students in your school district increases and you have a $5,400,000 plus surplus your district is experiencing neither white flight nor is it facing bankruptcy.

The names have changed over the years: Kids First, Parents for Progress, Reach Higher, Forward Together... but they all either voted against a dual language program being in the Hoboken Public Schools in 2009, initiated the lawsuit against the charter school, agreed to continue the lawsuit against the charter school or have no issue running for office with people who supported the lawsuit. Meanwhile, NJ PARCC scores are lower than ever in the high school, the district continues to fail the QSAC DPR for INSTRUCTION and PROGRAM, the district was identified as a "District in Need of Improvement" under Kids First, Parents for Progress, Reach Higher, Forward Together leadership, and the district is being again "reorganized" into its 6th configuration in 7 years. Maybe there's other things the Board majority should be concerned about? 

Actual 2009 "Kids First" political flyer (front)

Actual 2009 "Kids First" political flyer (back)

6 Years of "Reform"- 2015 PARCC Language Art Scores (DFG)

6 Years of "Reform"- 2015 PARCC Algebra 2 Scores (DFG)

6 Years of "Reform"- 2015 PARCC Algebra 1 Scores (DFG)