HoLa: We Are Not Pushing out Boys and Girls Club
Charter school’s board president responds to accusations.
Photos
HoLa, Hoboken's dual language charter school, has made several changes to the Hoboken Boys and Girls Club building since it moved onto the second floor almost two years ago. The school has cleaned, painted, renovated existing classrooms, divided a large space into new classrooms, and added fire escapes at 123 Jefferson St.
But not everyone in the community is happy about it.
HoLa has been accused of taking over space and time from the Boys and Girls Club that uses the first floor of the building to serve mostly underprivileged children with an afterschool program. The school has also been blamed for an alleged reduction of services at the club.
The school board president said some members of the community are wrongfully blaming HoLa for whatever might be happening at the Boys and Girls Club.
"What people don’t seem to realize," wrote President of HoLa’s Board of Trustees Jennifer Hindman Sargent in a recent email, “is that we utilize the space during the portion of the day that the building was entirely unused previously because the Boys and Girls Club students attended their own respective schools during the day, and the building was only used for afterschool programming prior to HoLa."
Both Hindman Sargent and the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hudson County Gary Greenberg have said the school and the club have a good, mutually beneficial relationship. And if Greenberg ever asked the school not to use space the club needed, Hindman Sargent said, HoLa would certainly comply.
“It’s not an elitist school like they are trying to make it out to be,” she said. She added that some people have just wanted to discourage HoLa from the start.
HoLa opened its classrooms for kindergarten through second grade in September 2010 with plans to grow by a grade each year until the school reached fifth grade.
This year, HoLa has two new third grade classrooms, and construction is already underway for two new fourth grade classrooms. Hindman Sargent said the challenge now is figuring out where the school will put the fifth grade in 2013.
Multiple parents have said that school representatives told them HoLa will eventually include sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. But the school’s current lease with the club is “for a full-time public elementary charter school serving kindergarten through fifth grade.” Hindman Sargent said that in two years, when it is time to renew HoLa’s charter, the school will apply for the state’s approval to extend through the eighth grade.
Besides regular classes, HoLa offers two different programs after school. Its aftercare program is from 2:30 to 6 p.m. and parents pay up to $325 a month per child, depending on how many days a week the child attends. And its other program, from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., offers extra help and enrichment classes, some of which parents have to pay for, Hindman Sargent said.
Two of HoLa’s enrichment classes are held on the first floor (one in the kitchen and the other in the gym) one day a week and overlap with club hours, which begin at 3 p.m. The overlap—as well as the fact that the school has to turn over classrooms to the club when club hours begin—has caused some tension.
One parent who has had a child in the club in recent years, but wanted to remain anonymous, said that the transition is awkward for club staff. For their afterschool activities, club kids used to be separated into groups by age, she said, but now they are all crammed into a single classroom. “They are losing space and being pushed aside,” said the parent, who said she is close to staffers at the club.
Hindman Sargent said HoLa turns over five of the six original classrooms to the Boys and Girls Club at the end of each school day. And so, she added, HoLa uses two of the new classrooms the school planned for and one of the old rooms. “It’s not like we are usurping space,” said Hindman Sargent.
She added that the club kids have priority in the entire building from 3:30 p.m. until the evening.
There is limited space at the Boys and Girls Club and in Hoboken in general, Hindman Sargent said, "the ideal scenario is to have your own building." She said that while the board was planning the school, one of its members suggested that the school just ask the Boys and Girls Club to share its space, and the club agreed.
“The building was literally empty until 3 p.m.,” said Hindman Sargent. “It was just so underutilized.”
A charter school must apply to the state for approval, and applications must include a plan for location. HoLa’s charter application states that it plans to be located at the Boys and Girls Club for a minimum of two years, not a maximum. The school’s lease with the club allows the school to renew the lease “for 10 one-year extension periods through June 30, 2022.”
Hindman Sargent said that last year, the school paid $48,000 in rent and $12,000 in utilities and more than $100,000 for improvements, which included creating two new classrooms, recombining two classrooms that had been divided, pulling up industrial carpeting, and making repairs. She added that donations paid for a lot of the cost. HoLa was also required by the state to adapt the facility to code and had to spend about $36,000 for the installation of two new fire escapes, Hindman Sargent said.
Hindman Sargent said this year, HoLa will pay $180,000 in rent and utilities and that as more space is created, the school will pay proportionally higher rent to the Boys and Girls Club.
Greenberg has said that HoLa has helped the Hoboken branch of the Boys and Girls Club balance its budget. So, the club needed the income and the school needed the space. But what really matters, said Hindman Sargent, is the children.
"Everyone is trying to do their best to serve them all with very limited resources in terms of both space and funding," Hindman Sargent wrote. "Pitting them against each other is a false dichotomy and is not in anyone’s best interest."
Hindman Sargent added some of HoLa’s students stay afterschool for the extra help or aftercare program, some go downstairs to join the Boys and Girls Club, and some go home. HoLa students, she said, are no different from any other students in Hoboken.
Redrider765
8:23 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
So you took the dance studio so you could make 2 new classrooms out of that and you aren't taking space? What about the kitchen which now you use for cooking classes which forces the B&G club to use a slop sink so it can make bug juice for the B&G kids? That doesn't count as taking space? Please, spare us your excuses. You and your school should have absolutely nothing going on in that building after 3 when it is time for the B&G club to perform its mission.
nice try
11:08 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Precisely, as HoLa expands the HBGC is getting pushed out. Sargent doth protest too much.
nice try
12:33 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Some are more equal than others. After school cooking classes for HoLa kids and organic lunches from Revolution Foods while the HBGC lose their hot meal and get Kool-aid and Rice Krispies bars.
"HoLa Lunch Program:
Pasta Fagioli, All Natural Glazed Chicken Thigh with Roasted Potatoes, Grilled Chicken Sandwich—this is not the typical school cafeteria. These are just some of the choices from the Revolution Foods program. Revolution Foods delivers tasty and healthy meals, as well as nutrition education, to schools and programs across the country. They operate on the principle that every child’s education should include healthy eating and learning about nutritious food. Every lunch includes 1% milk, fresh fruit and vegetables, a healthy carbohydrate, and lean protein. Did we mention organic ingredients, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat and a partnership with Whole Foods?" http://holahoboken.org/?page_id=202
pied piper
9:26 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
let me see if I understand this.
1-Greenburg rents this space from the taxpayers for $2 so he can help the boys and girls at the boys and girls club but he is going to sublet it to someone else for 180k, and cut programs, food and space for the kids the building was intended for (mind you, this is only one of the many leasees he sublets to). Is this a real estate business? Is there a sublease claus?
2- Greenburg has a 2 year lease with Hola (?) for 48k per year, but there is ...what???...a verbal agreement that Hola will pay 180k? What does the lease say?
3- The can apply for 10- 1 year leases? Is this one of those do as you are told and you are in or ELSE....?
4- More additions? Is this even legal? It is a city owned building. Raia, their sitting board member, was awarded100k contract for the first addition, can we guess who will be awarded the next addition contract?
I thought the space was "donated" by the city for the use of the boys and girls club. What the heck is going on over there?
What are the board members of b&g club and occhipinti doing to protect those kids. 40-60 have already been displaced, what are they waiting for?
Amanda Staab
10:13 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
More information on the city's lease with the club to come....
pied piper
10:58 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Great! Thanks!
nice try
11:00 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
@Amanda Staab the other issue that needs to see the light is what the details are of HoLA trustee and donor Frank Raia's construction contract for the HoLa expansion. Was there a public bidding process for the contract? A school trustee benefiting financially from the school certainly appears like an ethical conflict.
p1ywood
11:02 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Thank you Ms Staab. This type of journalism is exactly what Hoboken needs, and does not go unnoticed by people that care.
Journey
9:30 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Something sounds disingenuous to me.
p1ywood
10:19 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Clearly, what we are reading here is HoLa is doing damage control concerning running roughshod over this facility, inconsiderately and poorly. It is seemingly more and more evident that apparently several local persons of influence with children in HoLa are pulling strings to take space away from the Boys and Girls Club. They should be ashamed of that, but now to start doing press releases like this really exposes the "loyal opposition" for the reckless insider's club they are.
-
It is time to merge all activities in this facility that occur after 3 PM. Either that or HoLa should stop usurping the Boy's and Girl's Club facility and go find their own like any normal school would have had to do from the outset. Shameless, and let's not even get started on Mr Raia's conflicted role as a "contractor of choice" on one hand an politico for the Old Guard for Board of Ed on the other. It is my view that if Assemblyman Ramos is going to send mailers out to all of Hoboken on a regular basis he needs to personally weigh in on this due to his involvement, but I'm not holding my breath. Deceptive, elitist politics by the Old Guard as usual in Hoboken.
Hoboken Answer
12:09 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Why are you getting worked up about the Old Guard's tactics in the fourth ward? Assemblyman Ruben Ramos sold out the community a long time ago and backs the exploitation of the community with the massive vote by mail paper balloting schemes.
He stood by both literally and figuratively on Tim Occhipinti's campaign. Even by Hudson County corruption standards, it stands alone as a monument to voter fraud. HoLa is an Old Guard venture as being that has to soak the taxpayers because that's what they do.
Getting over on the taxpayers is what they love more than anything.
Hoboken Answer
10:23 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Looks like more Kool Aid (and sugar treats) is being served up here and in tandem from the Executive Director and HoLa President.
Shameful.
Grafix Avenger
11:02 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
In other words: don't believe your lying eyes.
HoLa and NEW management come in and things get demonstrably worse for the kids at the Boys and Girls Club. The kids are unable to use their own facilities and the Director put them on a diet of Kool Aid (made in the slop sink) and Rice Krispy Treats. Why? Because preparing nutritious meals for kids (some don't get fed at home) is"inefficient". Does this new Director LIKE kids?
Garcia and Ramos, elected officials have kids at HoLa. Can't they use their influence to help the B&G kids?
The B&G under new management seems to care more about $ than fulfilling it's mission.
I agree with ply- functions ought to be combined after 3pm.
The City needs to get involved. They need to enforce the terms of their lease to the B&G.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/02/punxsutawney-tim.html
Great series, Amanda.
friendly fire
12:20 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
GA, why are you investing so much into a story about food at the B&G's club that sources "a parent that whishes to remain anonymous"? That's certainly not how you value stories on your own blog, why the sudden change?
CuriousGal
11:07 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Greenberg needs $500,001 to operate the B&GC each year. The B&GC has become a vibrant community center under his leadership during a time period when donations and gifts have been reduced due to current economic conditions. For every unnamed parent who is complaining there seem to be a half dozen very satisfied parents. Certainly issues need to be worked out and I'm confident they will be. The B&GC under Mr. Greenberg's direction is experiencing a rebirth in terms of its service and role for the Hoboken community and, if anything, has brought attention to how much the city needs a new and modern community center.
pied piper
11:16 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
IF Mr. Greenberg's direction is KOOL AID AND RICE KRISPIE TREATS as "rebirth in terms of its service and role for the Hoboken community" , You can keep it.
What the heck kind of leadership is that? This is his idea of a rebirth? Really?
p1ywood
11:19 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Hilarious how the anonymous curiousgal thinks anonymous bloggers are without merit and just blathers on. They really need to make continuing education a priority, maybe even a focus group on irony, over at Camp Mason for Mayor 2013.
Grafix Avenger
11:22 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Oh Jeez... YOU? Put your head back up Al Arezzo's a$$ when you're done with collecting signatures for your "grass roots" petition at a handful of Hoboken buildings.
Folks, can we agree to ignore this cancer in a serious discussion?
One more thing- I hear folks are very pissed at your RAT husband... I hear he's on the Old Guard's sh*t-list along with the Mason crew. That's YOU, too. tsk tsk... not nice to leak private political strategy discussions and Perry Belfiore's email to Al Sullivan. Did you hear about the RAT, people?
Read about the RAT: http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/02/rat-in-house.html
Redrider765
11:23 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Don't disagree the city could use a community center. Of course the city would have to pass some stringent ordinances to insure some scumbags don't misappropriate its use like HOLA did w/ the B&G club building.
Grafix Avenger
11:28 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
ply, word on the street is Bajardi, Barracato and Beth are as welcome as oozing lepers amongst Old Guard politicos- after leaking the Belfiore email to Al Sullivan.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/02/rat-in-house.html
pied piper
11:51 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Really cg? What is god's name does that have to do with the kids from the boys and girls club?
You like the direction, or as you put it "rebirth", Greenburg is taking with the boys and girls club- kinda says it all, doesn't it?
Hoboken Answer
12:15 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
There "seems to be a half-dozen very satisfied parents." Is that right? Where are they again? Not HoLa parents who are profiting from this likely illegal use of a taxpayer paid building for another purpose, but the B&G parents.
I don't see one let alone a ratio of 6:1.
This from the person screaming against November elections but can't get influence more than 10% on a poll here to agree.
Beth Mason deserves a refund from you and your husband.
Journey
12:45 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
So six very satisfied parents. How many families does the B&G serve? Lets do the math.
CuriousGal
1:27 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I said "For every unnamed parent who is complaining there seem to be a half dozen very satisfied parents." not six....its a ratio.
Journey
9:33 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
A dozen is 12.
12/2=6
Half a dozen = 6.
Journey
11:49 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Was Nancy working for the Kids First campaign or was she a private citizen voicing her opinion?
Journey
11:49 am on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I can say all sorts of things about you, Real Results, Raia, God, and well that falls on me as an unaffiliated private citizen.
demosthenes
12:27 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
CuriousGirl said: "Greenberg needs $500,001 to operate the B&GC each year."
That seems like an odd number - where does that figure come from? Is it public information?
Does that figure include hot lunches or rice krispy treats?
Since CuriousGirl seems to have the figures maybe she can explain exactly how much money was saved by the decision to stop feeding the children real food. Maybe Mr. Greenberg can let us know whether he would ever send his own children to an after school program that made that sort of decision.
CuriousGal
1:20 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
the article mentions that it takes $500,000 to run the B&GC each year and the $1 is the rent they play. Is that enough "documentation" for you? Yes, I would say its public---
demosthenes
1:49 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
If its "documentation enough" for you then you truly are an imbecile. Gary Greenberg "saying" it costs $500,000 per year to run the club doesn't either make it true or shed any light on what Mr. Greenberg is spending the money on since he sure isn't spending it on either hot meals or new programming. Personally, I can't wait to learn how much money Mr. Greenberg is being paid while Hoboken's children are being fed Rice Krispy treats. Am I the only one for whom the phrase "Let them eat cake!" comes to mind?
Mr. Greenberg thinks that providing a good meal to underprivileged Hoboken kids is less important than an hour of unspecified "programming." Would you like to know what "programming" replaced the meal or is Mr. Greenberg's word that good nutrition isn't important "good enough" documentation for you?
Does little "curious" get fed Koolaid and a rice Krispy treat or do you and Mr. Curious actually feed the little bugger something more nutritious?
This is when a smart political operative would see the benefits in cutting Mr. Greenberg loose. Try repeating the phrase "all that matters is the best interests of the children" over and over while you figure out a way to keep your patrons from being associated with feeding disadvantaged children rice krispy treats instead of hot meals.
CuriousGal
1:55 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Mr. Greenberg is on record that the snacks mentioned in the article are not typical.
Grafix Avenger
12:31 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Oooh, it looks like I touched a Curious Nerve! Yup, hubby's the RAT and about as popular with the Old Guard politicos as an oozing leper. ;-)
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/02/rat-in-house.html
Hobbs
12:43 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Is it just me that anything that " Old Guard" politico Frank "Pupie" Raia gets involved in lately seems to be tainted in some way ?
I guess that is why Raia and Hoboken's First Corruption the Russos are such close political allies along with Mason.
Birds of a feather ? :-)
Redrider765
12:46 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Lately? I think it is only lately that people started paying and the taint has always been there.
pied piper
12:48 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Hey, Cg, do you think the Hola administration would try to give kool aid and rice krispie treats to their kids?
But, it's good enough for the boys and girls club kids, right?
Is that going to be part of the 'rebirth"over at the club?
CuriousGal
1:35 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
I'm not sure the Hola administration is any more or less responsible for what the Boys and Girls Club members eat for snacks than is Zogg sports, the AA group, or the synagogue (other renters of the space according to the story).
Your contempt for Hola is obvious--- but your rationalization is biased and emotional.
Redrider765
1:39 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
None of those other groups are using the kitchen for cooking classes.
CuriousGal
2:02 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Sounds more like an excuse than a reason. The use of the kitchen is on a very limited basis as you know. Again, the charter school is no more or less responsible for what the Boys and Girls Club members eat for snacks than is Zogg sports, the AA group, or the synagogue (other renters of the space according to the story).
Redrider765
2:07 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Not an excuse at all especially when you consider it was never a problem until HOLA effectively evicted the B&G club from parts of the building upon their misappropriation of the facility.
pied piper
2:58 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
cg,Don't try to spin this-
Apparently, you like the direction greenburg is taking-
cg said:
"The B&GC has become a vibrant community center under his leadership ... The B&GC under Mr. Greenberg's direction is experiencing a rebirth in terms of its service and role for the Hoboken community"
Hola's kids have someone watching out for them, where are the people who are supposed to be watching out for the boys and girls club kids?
CuriousGal
1:42 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Why don't some of you self-rightous bloggers volunteer some time to make and distribute hot meals to the children of the Boys and Girls Club? Seems like it might be a productive and positive way to really make an impact on these children's lives and set a good example of community involvement. Volunteers are always needed and many of you seem to have available time. You can contact Mr. Greenberg or just drop by and discuss how you would like to help out.
Grafix Avenger
1:57 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Dim Kim, the issue is not money nor manpower. Hot meals have been provided for YEARS- it was never a problem until Director 'Krispy Treat' Greenberg came on board. And he said on these pages that it wasn't funding it was "inefficient".
Are you some kind of attention-ho? Must you glom onto every discussion? How about feeding your RAT some cheese? Why did he diss Belfiore like that? Sending his private email to AL Sullivan? Shameful. Well, you know what they say: there's no honor among camera-thieves.
R-A-T.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/02/rat-in-house.html
Redrider765
2:09 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Well, Kim and her poofy haired husband are kind of in trouble w/ people like Pupie b/c of that leak so my guess is she is trying to make things up to Pupie & company.
pied piper
3:04 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The city donates the building to the boys and girls club for $2. Why doesn't Greenburg continue to feed the kids hot meals? WHy did he get an infusion of money only to cut programs, give away space, shorten staff and displace oys and girls club kids? Why were 40-60 kids displaced from this building so that 2 classrooms could be made from the dance studio?
Is the space donated for the kids of the boys and girls club or for any leasee who would like to sublet??
Priorities.
Scott M. Siegel
2:23 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
How about the B&G club putting their budget and audit online? The city should demand it.
friendly fire
2:23 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
GA, why are you investing so much into a story about food at the B&G's club that sources "a parent that wishes to remain anonymous"? That's certainly not how you value stories on your own blog, why the sudden change?
Redrider765
2:35 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Do you even read her blog? She has plenty of anonymous sources who send her stuff.
Grafix Avenger
3:34 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
What are you talking about? I've been writing about this since August. My sources (plural) are inside the B&G, not parents.
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2011/08/two-cities.html
demosthenes
2:25 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Curiousgirl - I agree with you 100% that HOLA is not to blame for the curious reduction in services to B&G club corresponding with an increase in income. I think the problem people are having is not with HOLA but with this odd and troubling inverse relationship of income to programming. Perhaps you can shed some light on what that additional revenue is being used for.
pied piper
3:00 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Agreed!
friendly fire
2:37 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
So does Perry Klaussen you schmuck
Redrider765
2:46 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Pardon me for not really caring what someone too intellectually challenged to figure out how to hit a reply button thinks.
friendly fire
2:49 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Good one!
Grafix Avenger
3:36 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
What happened to Curious Gal? I wanted to let her know the RAT's been caught! ;-)
http://grafixavenger.blogspot.com/2012/02/ga-catches-rat.html
red's blowup doll
6:06 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Tonight's a very special night for Red and I, I'm hoping he will take a break from commenting and spend some quality time here in our rental. I hope everyone has a nice Valentine's day, and I'll be back tomorrow to let you know how tonight goes!!
QJ201
7:59 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
I hope no taxpayer money is being used to fund (staff, supplies, etc.) those "extra charge" programs at a publicly funded charter school.
Scott M. Siegel
11:31 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Charter schools are public schools and therefore the cost is borne by NJ taxpayers. Approximately 25% of the Hoboken BOE budget goes to charter schools.
CuriousGal
1:44 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Any possibility of making it 100% of the Hoboken BOE budget Scotty? Then maybe I'll feel comfortable sending my children to the Hoboken "public" schools.
Karen O'Shea
1:07 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
HOLA everyone. I am of the opinion that Hola charter belongs in another space perhaps in the Hoboken Business Center that Dell Aquila owns on newark and Observer or the YMCA Either way, give the Boys and Girls back their club.
CuriousGal
1:45 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Read the article-- the B&GC was UNDERutilized before 3pm.
Joan T
4:05 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
I am a huge supporter of Boys and Girls club and any outreach program to help communities children. That said, i wonder as parents of the community - charter or otherwise, how we have schools scrambling for space for required education/schools and an after school program gets space for $2. Again, the idea that we provide space to this program is wonderful. But what about the children who have schools without a home. Is afterschool program funding more important that a space to go to school? Also as i see the bus from jersey city come in. I wonder, what is the jersey city b&g club used for? We have jubilee and multiservice center, do we have enough space to combine childrens afterschool programs more effectively for hoboken youth and then do the same for schools, evaluate number of children all current space being used for school and ensure we maximize and fairly use all the space in our great but limited space of a town? Jersey City kids - there must be space avail for jersey city kids to do programs in their own town. If we had space - sharing facilities is fantastic, but the reality of hoboken is we dont have space and i personally think our space should be used for our kids. and i think we can do this without removing programs but more effectively allocating space and resources and focusing on our own residents first.
Redrider765
4:11 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
You going to keep cutting and pasting this post until people respond? Here is the problem w/ the B&G Club facility. We leased the building to the B&G club, not a charter school. Now if the city council & mayor wish to enter into a lease for a charter school to lease some space, I am all for that option being explored, discussed and voted upon. What I am not for is for a few politically connected individuals entering into some sort of sweetheart lease for a charter school on the sly that is possibly in violation of the lease the B&G club has w/ the city that in effect makes the B&G club a second class citizen in a building the city intended to be specifically intended for their use.
Journey
4:11 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Are you going to copy, delete the post, paste a new post, over and over again?
Sting Ray
6:55 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
First off, Joan, I’m trying to wrap my head around the claim you are a huge supporter of Boys and Girls club. Schools are scrambling for space. What are they scrambling from? Perhaps they’re scrambling from the type of children who use the Boys and Girls Club? I get it. So, any elitist school by the mere suggestion of its existence should be given priority over after school programs for the underprivileged. Maybe the charters can scramble over to the Jubilee Center for space, too. Taking it one step further, why not boot those children out and place them at the Doggy Day Care. BTW, the Hoboken children were discouraged from attending their Boys & Girls Club because the crafty new management fired their parents or extended family from being counselors or cooks. They then replaced their warm meals with Rice Krispy treats. There’s now a Montessori school installed at the Jersey City Boys and Girls Club, so those children are being booted around, too.
gettheledout44
6:44 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
you chuckleheads want us to believe that hola is a strip club or opium den that hoodwinked the dolts at the b&g club. it's a school for little kids. a school!!!!!!!
Face it, Red, parents don't want to go to the public schools that your kf friends got hold of and continue to run into the ground. they've got ice on the wings and don't have a clue how to respond. ask your pal journey. he's planning on going to the new science charter school those ladies are planning because elysian, hoboken charter and hola have long waiting lists full of hoboken parents who say rah rah kids first and then bolt to the charters from day one or asap.
Journey
9:50 pm on Friday, February 24, 2012
Don't try to misrepresent me.
One I'm a woman. Two, I'm curious about the STEM charter school, not because I'm unwilling to send my child to public school, but because I like Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. I support Kids First, my daughter is going to spend 2 years in a Hoboken pre-school. If this school does not open, or my daughter does not make the lottery, she will be going to public school. I'm not fleeing the school, like you tried to put in my mouth.
I have no interest in Eysian, Hoboken Charter, or HoLa, because the don't have a curriculum that interests me.
Do not use me to make your weak argument.