The Herald
Hoboken Public School District
Superintendent's Weekly Message - November 27, 2019
As we close out this shortened school week, I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving. As eloquently shared by Maya angelou, "when we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed." The Hoboken Public School District has so much to be thankful for during this holiday season. We have talented, empathetic, creative and motivated students. Our staff members and administrators are dedicated and passionate. Parents and guardians want nothing but the best academic, social and emotional environment for their children. And, our Board of Education is focused on continuous improvement efforts.
Just recently, the Hoboken Public School District was notified that Elysian Charter School submitted an application to expand the number of students in their school. At recreation activities and at various other events across the city, the official message being communicated by Elysian Charter School is that this action will not have a financial impact on our district. On the contrary, if approved, this expansion will have a detrimental effect on our budget, our programs, and staffing, not to mention a continued segregative effect. In an effort to provide our school community a factual account of Charter School Funding, I have included below, an FAQ. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, or any member of the Hoboken Board of Education.
I encourage you to take time and review the remainder of The Herald. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook too. Each week, you will see that I highlight one or two schools so that every family has the chance to learn about the entire district. Over the past two weeks, I have highlighted each of our schools in The Herald. In this addition, I have included a range of items from across the district.
Once again, I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday with your family and friends.
Sincerely,
Superintendent Johnson
Misconceptions about Charter School Funding!
It’s been twenty-two years since New Jersey’s first thirteen charter schools were approved by the state, yet district and charter school funding continues to be misunderstood.
Here are the basics:
What is the biggest misconception about charter school funding? It is widely believed that the State of New Jersey provides the funding for the charter schools it approves.
Who funds public education in New Jersey? The state of New Jersey, like most states, relies on local tax dollars to fund the majority of each municipality’s public schools. The people of Hoboken pay for Hoboken’s public schools—both district and charter schools.
Where do those tax dollars come from? Public education in New Jersey is primarily funded by the real estate taxes paid by each town’s property owners. A look at a typical Hoboken property tax bill shows that the largest portion (40%) goes to Hudson County to pay for county roads, county parks and open spaces, the county schools (e.g., County Prep and High Tech), the county sheriff’s department, and so on. The next largest portion (35%) goes to the City of Hoboken to fund municipal services, open space, and the public library. And 25% funds Hoboken public education—the district schools and the city’s three charter schools.
Doesn’t the state fund public education? The reliance on local property taxes for public education is what led to the New Jersey Supreme Court landmark Abbott ruling in the mid-1980s. The court concluded that tying a town’s real estate to its public education resulted in unequal and, therefore, unconstitutional funding. In other words, children in poor urban districts were not getting the same educational opportunities as children in the more affluent suburbs. And so the court ordered the state to provide supplemental funding (called Equalization Aid and, later, Adjustment Aid) to about 30 so-called Abbott Districts* (of which Hoboken was one) in order to close that funding gap. In addition to this supplemental aid, the state also provides districts with Categorical Aid—funds to provide specific programs (primarily for special needs students) depending on a district’s specific student population. Also, like all former Abbott districts, Hoboken is required to provide free preschool for its three and four-year old children—the intent being to give young children of less affluent families the same access to quality preschool that more affluent families can afford. The state provides 100% funding for that preschool program, which the district manages on behalf of the state on a needs-free basis. In 2018, the state reexamined its policy of supplemental aid. As a result, Hoboken is one of many * The former Abbott districts are now called SDA Districts (SDA being short for School Development Authority).New Jersey districts that will face millions of dollars in reduction of state aid—over $4 million in the case of Hoboken. Recognizing that one-time reductions of such magnitude would be catastrophic to districts, the reductions will be spread out over seven years and began in 2018. Hoboken lost $528,000 in the first year, another $501,000 this year, and five more significant reductions through 2025.
Who decides the school tax? With a few exceptions, most school districts in New Jersey operate independently of their local municipal governments, with each district having its own publicly elected school board. These local boards of education are authorized by the state to levy taxes on local citizens for the purpose of funding that town’s public schools. Although Hoboken’s three charter schools, each with its own board, operate independently of the Hoboken district school board, it is the sole responsibility of the Hoboken Board of Education (HBOE) to raise the local taxes necessary to fund all of Hoboken’s public schools, which includes the charter schools.
How does the HBOE decide what to budget for charter schools? It doesn’t. The HBOE is told what to budget for charter schools by the state. The state calculates a per-pupil amount and multiplies that by the number of charter school pupils.
What is the charter school per-pupil amount? The Charter School Program Act of 1995 requires the local district to provide the local charter schools with a per-pupil amount equal to 90% of what the state calculates a district spends to educate its own district students. But it’s more complicated than that. For instance, the state’s formula for calculating charter school per-pupil funding assumes that children in primary grades cost less to educate than students in upper elementary and high school. It also factors in student socioeconomic and special education data. That is why the per-pupil amount varies from charter school to school ($13,285 for Elysian Charter School; $12,412 for Hoboken Dual Language Charter School; and $12,343 for Hoboken Charter School).
If the charter school gets 90%, does the district get to keep the other 10%? No. The state dictates to the HBOE how much it must provide to the charter schools. This amount is then included in the district’s overall budget which must then be collected locally through adequate taxation.
If Hoboken property owners fund the district and charter schools, why would the Hoboken Board of Education care about an increase in charter school funding? First, as the only publicly elected school board in Hoboken, it is the HBOE, not the charter school boards, that faces exposure to voter discontent over tax increases for public education. But second, and more important: under former Gov. Christie’s tax reforms, school districts are limited to a modest 2% increase (a “2% cap”) over the previous year’s local tax levy. There is no way for a district to raise additional revenue beyond the 2% cap except for specific waivers. This funding method—the 2% cap plus waivers—is intended to provide New Jersey districts, most of which do not fund charter schools, with a modest but adequate annual budget increase that is fair to local taxpayers. However, an increase in Hoboken children enrolling in charter schools could result in HBOE costs exceeding the maximum revenue it can raise. In that event, the district would need to cut, curtail or modify its own programs in order to meet its obligation to fund the charter schools. (Such was the case in 2019–2020. The allowable 2% increase totaled $942,000. However, the charter school increases totaled $653,000, leaving the Hoboken district with an actual tax increase of only $289,000.)
Proud of Hoboken High School Graduates: Rutgers Pre-Medical Honors Program
Hoboken Public Education Foundation's Giving Tuesday
Dear HPEF Supporters,
Tuesday, December 3rd is #GivingTuesday, and it's a big day for us and the Hoboken Public Schools!
HPEF is gearing up for Giving Tuesday ‘19 to raise funds in support of important school initiatives. Last year, we raised over $14,000 and this year our goal is to exceed this number! 100% of the funds raised go directly back into educational initiatives at Hoboken Public Schools, including Brandt, Connors and Wallace elementary schools, Hoboken Middle School and Hoboken High School. Our goal is to raise funds to elevate the educational experience and fund initiatives including, yet not limited to:
- Educational field trips for our K-8 graders
- Interactive whiteboards for Brandt and Wallace elementary school classrooms*
- Additional Chromebooks to benefit all schools
- College readiness for our high schoolers through funding of Princeton Review SAT prep courses
- Annual teacher grants that focus on whole child development within Hoboken Public Schools
*Note that Connors Elementary, Hoboken Middle School and Hoboken High School have already replaced their smartboards with these more interactive whiteboards
This year, we have the exciting opportunity to TRIPLE your donations. Here's how:
Starting at 8:00AM on December 3rd, Facebook will match every contribution made to its Facebook non-profit fundraisers, including our Hoboken Public Education Foundation campaign. However, the dollar-for-dollar matching offer expires when $7 million in total donations is reached, usually within minutes!
We have a matching sponsor who has agreed to match ALL donations up to $5,000!
Please donate on #GivingTuesday and share our fundraising link with family and friends when it goes live so they too can help support HPEF with a donation on December 3rd!
Together, we will make it the most successful #GivingTuesday ever! Thank you for your support!
With Gratitude,
Hoboken Public Education Foundation
www.instagram.com/hobokenpublicedfoundation
Hoboken PEF is a non-profit (501(c)(3)) created to support Hoboken Public Schools by elevating and enhancing the public education experience through private funding. Through the involvement of parents, community members and local businesses, Hoboken PEF has funded numerous programs and initiatives to directly benefit Hoboken Public School Students and the community as a whole.
See America In Color Essay Contest Notification of Winners
Dear Superintendents, Principals and School District Leaders:
This note sends deep gratitude for your support of the essay contest within the civic engagement campaign to www.SeeAmericaInColor.com (SAIC). After sending word out to 600+ school districts, we engaged 14 schools as part of the initial group. Since moving to the ‘judging’ phase we’ve now arrived at the ‘Starting 5’ district finalists.
Over the past few weeks we’ve been sharing quotes from your students’ essays as part of our #CultureChallenge on social media. We'll be featuring a Franklin High School student later today. Hoping to confer with NJDOE in the days ahead to share next steps and select statewide winners with announcement date to follow.
The enclosed flyer is initially being shared internally on my team, with NJDOE and other officials like yourselves who’ve been kept informed over time. Thanks again for participating as a resource during this process. We couldn’t have made it this far without your willingness to lend a listening ear and a helping hand.
As you’ll see in the NJ Governor’s and Attorney General’s Offices Press Release here https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases19/pr20190807b.html we have some work to do together as a State and maybe as a country. More specifics on how SAIC might impact these stats beyond the essay contest will be forthcoming.
Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
Cheers,
Doc
Douette ‘Doc’ Cunningham
“Da Island Guy”
908-391-1655
@SeeUSAinColor
See America in Color - Hoboken Middle School's Jessida Urquiaga in the "Starting Five"
See America in Color
“I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities,” said Nelson Mandela. Racism, equality, and freedom are all sensitive topics. Regardless of the color of your skin, your physical and mental abilities, everyone should be treated equally, that is what Mandela's home for his nation was and what we should all hope for humankind. But why are we still dealing with unfair rules or laws in our society today?
Those considered different are discriminated against because society has developed a perception that if a person doesn't look or act a certain way they are to be looked down upon. This is what divides our society. We must have an understanding of why people of higher power feel the need to discriminate against people based on their race and physical or mental abilities, in order to combat discrimination. We must come together as one with the world to change the minds of those who don't believe we are all equal.
Hoboken Middle School's Hudson River Wetlab
Be sure to mark Your calendar. We would like for you to join us at the Middle & High School Family Engagement Event
Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
The New Jersey Department of Education requires each school district to operate a special education parent advisory group or council. The Hoboken School District is proud to announce the following SEPAC meeting dates for the 2019-2020 school year. All meetings will be held at the Office of Special Services in Wallace Elementary School.
8:30-9:00: SEPAC Planning Committee Meeting (All may attend)
9:00-10:00: Presentation from the Hoboken Public School District Special Services Administration on services and supports
January 23, 2020, 6:30pm-8:30pm
6:30-7:00: SEPAC Planning Committee Meeting (All may attend)
7:00-8:30: Topic TBDMarch 6, 2020, 8:30am-10:00am
8:30-9:00: SEPAC Planning Committee Meeting (All may attend)
9:00-10:00: Presentation on Guardianship and Transition ServicesMay 15, 2020, 8:30am-10:00am
8:30-9:00: SEPAC Planning Committee Meeting (All may attend)
9:00-10:00: Special Education Week ActivitiesHoboken Public Schools - A District Dedicated to Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
Our Vision
The Hoboken Public School District will be recognized as a premier educational choice and widely known as a best-practice model for academic growth, high quality instruction, innovative and equitable programs, engagement, facilities and personalized pathways that are essential for college, career and life-preparedness in our ever-changing, interconnected global society.
Our Mission
The Hoboken Public School District will prepare confident and resilient graduates who value academic achievement, embrace challenge, honor diversity, appreciate collaboration, and respectfully contribute to their local and wider communities.
Our District Goals
The Hoboken Public School District will implement a rigorous, relevant and responsive curriculum that meets the needs of all students, fosters personalized pathways for learning, and ensures continuous academic growth.
The Hoboken Public School District will support its diverse staff in professional growth, encourage them to serve as role models, and empower them to provide the highest quality of instruction for our students.
The Hoboken Public School District will develop and implement unique and innovative programs that promote global learning, ensure equitable access, and foster the social, emotional and academic growth of each student.
The Hoboken Public School District will engage and communicate with families and the wider community to bridge understanding and advance partnerships.
The Hoboken Public School District will operate well-maintained and safe facilities that respond to our growing student enrollment, support our academic and co-curricular programs, and promote pride across the city.
Email: district@hoboken.k12.nj.us
Website: www.hoboken.k12.nj.us
Location: 158 4th Street, Hoboken, NJ 07834
Phone: (201) 356-3600
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HobokenPublicSchoolDistrict/
Twitter: @HobokenSchools