Dear Editor:
A former Kids First supporter, I am particularly disappointed by the Hoboken Board of Education’s decision to ‘go to the wall’ in continuing to oppose my son Luke and his classmates at HoLA. I had believed Dr. Gold’s and the Board’s fervent opposition to have been based on principle. However, with recently divisive language and prosecution of the taxpayer-funded lawsuit challenging the state’s granting of HoLA’s charter expansion, their crusade has taken a vindictive tone.
Dr. Gold seems to have given his blessing to the other two charter schools in town, but decided to draw the line on HoLA. Referencing “segregation” and “white flight”, the community leaders who have fought so fervently against our lottery-based, public school have inserted unnecessary rancor into the debate.
I find it ironic that implications of racism are being raised against me and my wife for our decision to enroll our sons in a Spanish-bilingual school whose multicultural mission should be celebrated by all. It seems disingenuous to criticize HoLA when its student population more closely represents community demographics than do some of the district’s own elementary schools.
It is unfair to obstruct the growth of our successful school which needed to go the charter route only because the Board rejected the bilingual program as part of their district just a handful of years ago.
I hope that, when the time comes, Hoboken High will be a viable option for Luke and his brother Jake. I hope, regardless of the ultimate outcome of this legal action, community leaders will carefully consider the atmosphere they create in our city so as to not infect our young people with the animosity that seems to have affected some adult advocates. And I ask Dr. Gold and the Board to move on. Let it go.
Peace,
Jim O’Brien