Newark May Consolidate Schools To Make Way For Charters, After Zuckerberg Donation

NEWARK, N.J. — Newark school officials are considering a massive reorganization of the city's schools that would make more space for charter schools.

The Star-Ledger of Newark reports based on a document the newspaper obtained that several schools could be consolidated or phased out.

State Deputy Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks says the 39-page document is a planning document and wasn't meant for public consumption yet.

The plan calls for some long-struggling schools to be closed and their students sent elsewhere. Other schools with low enrollment could be consolidated.

The buildings freed up by the moves would be used to house new and existing charter schools. It's unclear whether they would pay rent.

Newark's schools are getting an overhaul with the help of a $100 million grant from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

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Information from: The Star-Ledger, http://www.nj.com/starledger

Comments

[SupportPublicEd]

02:41 PM on 03/21/2011

Changing the education system to get the money.... Shouldn't the money be used to support the best changes in the education system?

Just another example how the psuedo-reformers are damaging public education with their disposable income. Gates, Zuckerberg, and Broad are unified in their lack of expertise on education and by a desire to control.

To get an idea about how philanthropy is corrupted by the need for control, read the New Yorker article on Eli Broad's funding of the arts in LA.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/12/06/101206fa_fact_bruck

[bbbbmer]

04:52 PM on 03/02/2011

Shame on Cory Booker - what a fraud he's turned out to be...

[BrendaNYC]

03:50 PM on 03/02/2011

Newark deserves this break and Mayor Booker is just the person to steward this gift.

[saintjule]

11:11 PM on 02/26/2011

Not that any one cares but charter schools are just another scheme to cherry pick students. This is the Arne Duncan philosophy for education, a national Sidwell Friends school system if you will. Check out who Zuckerberg hangs with or Michell Rhee for that matter. 100 million, well at lest we know how much a politician is worth.

[WeCanDoMore]

06:28 PM on 02/26/2011

Go Mark! Another good guy breaks out of the corporate mold, and joins Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and possibly The Oracle, as examples that you can be mega rich and alos be a humane compassionate, participating human being who makes a big difference for Good. The antithesis of the Kochs.

[MrUnlimited]

03:41 AM on 02/27/2011

I agree with everything except your last sentence. While the Kochs are more known for their support of certain Republican initiatives, the bulk of their philanthropy goes to things like the arts, medical research, education, etc.:

http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/09/02/koch-brothers-give-more-to-charity-than-to-right-wing-causes/

http://www.kochfamilyfoundations.org/FoundationsDHK.asp

They've given ~$100 million to right wing causes and $600 million to the arts, education, etc., yet no one seems to be aware of this. I don't necessarily agree with the politicians they support, but I try to acknowledge their philanthropy.

[WeCanDoMore]

10:35 AM on 02/27/2011

Its not hard to find in history art fans who were also despotic thugs. One trait does not rule out the other, nor does it negate ones selfish actions, all the more so if one is one of the most powerful people on earth. With much money (inherited) comes much responsibility. When it comes to these guys, the word that comes to mind is FAIL. After that, unbridled greed, or maybe soulless, empty, misguided, dangerous...

Education? Really? Their purchased lackeys in the legislature are pushing to defund public schools while giving tax payer dollars to the most profitable corporations on earth, namely, Kochs own oil companies. If indeed they gave a penny to education, it's an attempt to alleviate guilt for what they do to destroy, with their other hand. But ,hey, it's just business. Us real people just don't understand.

[Gregor53]

06:02 PM on 02/25/2011

Knowledge is Power so by controlling education, once controls power. 

[julieJgoldengay]

10:14 PM on 02/22/2011

Just Think...
10, 15, 25.
Years from Now.
America will Improve.
Jersey Kids.
Will Improve It.

[justhinking]

03:49 PM on 02/25/2011

10, 15, 25 years from now my son will be paying to support the educational failures from the New Jersy school system. As you move from public education to a private, profit driven system the quality will continue to fall and options for all but the rich will be limited. We are already #12 of the 36 developed nations and falling. People really need to stop listening to political leaders and really look at what is being done to them. I am sorry for the future students of New Jersy. If you love your children, I'd start looking to move out of state.

[leorangerie]

08:15 PM on 02/22/2011

Zuckerberg is the only 26 yr in the world giving back at this level. Good for him.

[saintjule]

11:15 PM on 02/26/2011

Problem with this gift is that is tax free money and a cheap way to re-invest and get billions in free publicity. Bet Mark is developing ed. soft ware that he wants to peddle. Gates owns much of the meds that he is peddling for aids.

[Jefferson Vickers]

06:16 PM on 02/22/2011

Zuckerberg though a powerful gift gave Chrusty a pass on his cuts... When the money runs out it won't be pretty

[Lizzy28]

11:18 AM on 02/23/2011

Do you believe Zuckerberg is in favor of the gift going toward Charter schools?

[Jefferson Vickers]

07:52 PM on 02/23/2011

I think in the short term it is GREAT for the schools. We went through this though in California. Someone steps in Government steps out. Parents make up the difference then make DEMANDS that they hold money as a negotiation chip when it comes to EVERYTHING. I taught for a district called Las Virgenes, well to do, but not well enough. They look to donations, then you get dictated how, why, and if it should be spent and if you don't it mysteriously dries up. I am NOT a fan of Zuckerman I hope he is not like Lucy and the football.

[becut]

03:26 PM on 02/22/2011

Public policy is being driven by these donations from corporations. These corporations don't pay their fair share in taxes through the state and us congress giving them extreme tax breaks, therefore they now have the money to undermine the people through donations. If they have so much to donate why not have them pay their fair share in taxes. No that would mean that the government and people would control the way the money is spent. These CEO's were not elected and their money should not be used to take over and control public policy through donating. This is a win win for these corporations................they save on paying taxes then they use the savings to undermine unions so they can mistreat workers and lower wages, all while making greater profits.

[Lizzy28]

11:20 AM on 02/23/2011

So do you think Zuckerberg goes along with the corporate mentality that wants to see public school enrollment go down and private school enrollment increase?

[SoutheastBeast]

05:26 PM on 02/25/2011

I think Zuckerberg is well intentioned but doesn't know what he is doing.

[saintjule]

11:24 PM on 02/26/2011

These donations are tax free and usually come with extensive strings attached like privatizing schools and hiring and firing at personal whim rather than valid reasons. I don't like you, bye bye. Good place for arrogant little power egos to exercise their private theories at the expense of the students. Can you imagine tens of thousands of non blinking little Zuckerbergs and bombastic Chris Christis running around the country. Face book caused the riots in Egypt? Are you kidding me? Google Maybe. Or maybe Wikipedia, Facebook never.

[changing]

02:01 PM on 02/22/2011

Why am I not suprised. Everyone better wake up-schools are up for sale to the highest bidder.

[dmzrn]

01:06 PM on 02/22/2011

I've been watching "Brick City", a documentary series on the Bravo Channel. It covers the attempts of Mayor Booker to bring his city back from the brink of destruction in the 2008-09 years. I appreciate the view it gives me into the minority experience, and my admiration for Mayor Booker grows as I see him challenge his citizens to be responsible, moral, supportive of each other and tough on crime.

This latest effort in Newark will, perhaps, bring them one step closer to a voucher system that will make individual schools competitive and results oriented. Money is not the only answer.

Witness this report on Wisconsin schools:
(CNSNews.com) - "Two-thirds of the eighth graders in Wisconsin public schools cannot read proficiently according to the U.S. Department of Education, despite the fact that Wisconsin spends more per pupil in its public schools than any other state in the Midwest.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
By Terence P. Jeffrey

[a okafor007]

12:21 PM on 02/24/2011

In my opinion, the brunt of the work for a child starts at home. Parents should be reading to children instead of pushing them in from of a TV

[SoutheastBeast]

05:29 PM on 02/25/2011

If you look at the number of seats available in private schools in Newark, it is clear that vouchers can do little to serve the 40,000 students there. There just aren't enough seats. Also, what do you do with special needs students, English Language Learners, hyperactive children, and others who will not be served by private schools? This is the constant challenge for public schools, especially in places like Newark. And they can't be resolved by a voucher system.

[saintjule]

11:37 PM on 02/26/2011

YUP and busing kids around for hours before and after school doesn't help either Typical class three emotionally at risk kids, two girls that will not wear glasses because they are ashamed one that has type on diabetic and is frequently in a daze because she is ashamed of taking her insulin or is scared to death she will be accused of taking drugs with her syringe. three girls whose parents are going through a divorce, four or five homeless. six who are hungry. And we are going to cure this with charters. WTF is wrong with these people