Dear Editor:
We all want something so important yet so simple and fundamental, a challenging and nurturing academic environment for our children, one that will prepare our kids for the challenges of college, careers and life in a competitive global environment. As a parent, with two children attending HoLa, I am thrilled with the opportunity that HoLa provides, the rigor of learning in two languages, blending creativity and high academic standards, and a constant commitment to reflect and evolve, so that we continue to do more of the things that are working and change what needs improvement in real time. In doing so, every child has the opportunity to receive the best we can offer. We can support and nurture our children at home, but we only have one chance to give them a great education.
The Hoboken Board of Education is using tax payer dollars to sue the NJ State Department of Education because the state approved HoLa’s expansion; the state approved our expansion because of success and a need for good education in our city, because students are thriving and they deserve it! To use tax payer dollars to sue the state is irresponsible. HoLa runs a successful school with less than half the dollars per student than the Board of Education receives, so the concept that Hoboken public schools will continue to fail Hoboken children because HoLa is taking away small percentage of money from their budget is ridiculous. The constant obstacles set in front of us by Board of Education are beyond disheartening and are counterproductive to creating a rigorous and positive environment for the current students in the Hoboken public school. We would love to bring parents together across all schools to create a best in class environment for our local High School but can only do that with the support and participation of the board, with a genuine interest in being collaborative, inclusive, open to new ideas and willing to ask for help rather than assign blame. I encourage our community members to stand up for their children those in the school system and those who may be students in the future. We will continue to voice our concerns, to ask our educators, administrators and board to stop wasting time and resources by attacking HoLa and focus on the true task at hand, do the work to bring about progress and change. Stop attacking something that is working for the children in Hoboken and lets do more good for them, the kids deserve it! Thank you for your continued support.
Jen Branco
Hoboken Resident, HoLa parent