Please note clarifications/corrections to the above article. The funding to open a building would NOT come from the state. I said in the meeting that by law funding for the initial renovation and opening of a charter school can NOT come from public funding from the local or state level. Funding to open the facility would come from a federal grant or private donations.

We can all agree that Trenton needs to do a better job funding public schools... especially the Boro. However, Chris Christie's top priorities include cutting taxes, balancing the budget and promoting charter schools. I don't see anything about sending districts additional money. We can continue to "hope" for more money from Trenton, but how is the Boro BOE going to address the overcrowded issue in the mean time? We need proactive solutions that address these issues without relying on Trenton.

Min simple terms, I'm disgusted by this proposal for the clear and dangerous fact that a charter school would drain money from our already under-funded schools. Anyone truly vested in the Boro and our children would not even think to support or pursue this endeavor. I will all I can legally to ensure that this does not come to fruition for the sake of our students. Shame on Mr. Ginn.

Where in the borough would a new school be placed? This is a built up town and there are few open sites, certainly no empty buildings suitable for a school. It is true that the old Broad Street school building (sold for $1 many many years ago!) is up for sale but it does not have the grounds for outside activities a school should have.

Why don't they get a large bus, pick up all the ILLEGALS and send them back to Mexico and BAM problem solved!

Charter schools are not the answer in Freehold Boro. With an open enrollment policy and limited space, the charter can pick and choose the academically highest students (which will boost any data that the school will use in the future to prove it's effectiveness) and leave the rest of the students and the Boro's public schools with even less funding as it takes public school budgeted funds away. Parents/residents should petition the Governor to increase state aid to public schools and tell him that the lack of education funding is not only an issue in Camden. The Boro needs the opportunity to build a new PUBLIC school. The Beta Charter isn't concerned with easing the overcrowding burden, it's focused on making money.

Comments sound as if no one listened to the presentation
The initial funding does NOT come from the state and please who can say there is not enough space in town , open your eyes there is more empty spce and for sale buildings than ever before
My children went to private school andy grandkids go to private school because of how boro school are rated at DOE. A charter school will help increase education opportunities for our kids and increase property values
And I love the boro

we simply have to ignore the ignorant leftist comments regarding charter schools and proceed no matter what to give our children the very best education they deserve. The Communist radicals that run our public schools need to be run out of town!

Listen to yourself, Joe. Do you really need to say those kinds of angry things? Typical of a Republican start a name calling campaign to mask your own ignorance. Not to mention you do it w/o listing your FULL name. Classy.
@ Kids1st - You're right about the law of picking and choosing, I apologize for saying that. But, the law also states: "A charter school may establish reasonable criteria to evaluate prospective students which shall be outlined in the school's charter." Whatever they put in the charter could possibly be prejudice to smarter kids. I said "possibly," Joe. Don't go nuts. My issue is that once you take the "public" out of our schools and let private ownership take over, regulations can go out the window and the next thing you know, the charter is overcrowded, the public schools are now worse off w/o the funding that went to the charter, and the situation is back to where it is now. I'm not trying to be a naysayer. I want the best education for my kids too, but why not do our part to help what we have instead of bailing out and not looking back? Look at all of the revitalization of Main St. Let's promote the same pride and commitment to the public schools and not think that one charter coming to town is going to save the day.

and Doug you make no sense, you claim that the charters will make overcrowding, regs out the window and a failing system, wait, don't we have that now? You don't even need a charter school in the Borough you simply need to merge with the Township! But wait, that's too easy!! And besides they don't want the Hispanic and blacks over there.

There's no argueing with you, Joe (no last name). And I'm not even trying to do that. People saved downtown, people fix up parks, people make their houses and yards nice, why not save the schools too? Anywya, you're hypnotized by Republican sound bites and you're also a racist, so trying to make a point to you is, well, pointless. Fight for your cause and I'll do the same. Best of luck.

And, I'm sure you'll need the last word, so have at it.

and by the way, dougie, I didn't say pick up all the Mexicans or blacks or Italians or Irish, I said get a bus and send all the ILLEGALS back, you do comprehend an illegal don't you or I guess you won't mind if I come over to your house and take what I want when I want it?????

Dana - you're ok with taking money from our already under-funded schools? That's something to be proud of. And, Joe, what's with all the foaming at the mouth? This is not about liberal/conservative. Clearly your issues go beyond charter schools.

Oh! There's that "you must be a public employee" comment again, Joe! I looked at posts you left on other articles regarding politics and you always say the same thing. Just like what you do when try to argue your point. Hmm..lets see what Joe likes: Blaming govt employees, using unions as a scapegoat, hating the NJEA, sounds very Chris Christie to me. Get your own opinions and maybe we can take you seriously, JOEY!

I suppose you are asking if I am capable because you think I am a public employee and that makes me not smart. Another "debate" tactic you and your fellow republicans like to do. Continuously insult people instead sticking to the topic of which you don't know much. You haven't had a post yet that I've read that hasn't said something derogatory towards someone. Which goes back to why you want to know if everyone who doesn't "think" the way you do works for the govt. What does it matter? Because knowing that is going to change anything you say? You'll just be more insulting and think you can change people's positions. Do I care that you DON'T work for the govt? It doesn't matter to me to have a discussion with someone based on their profession. It's based on the what they have to say. By the way, I'm a lawyer.

and another thing Doug, I have no intention of changing anyone's opinion, I simply want the right of a parent to choose what school their children can attend! So my question to you is why deny that right? And I am not against any public employee that reasonably negotiates with their employee which by the way is the TAXPAYER!

oh yeah Doug how much do we spend in Newark to educate a public school system that cannot graduate over 60% of their students, oh yes, build another 75 million dollar school, that's it, we are simply not that advanced as a civilization to come up with a better solution, oh and btw my wife is a school teacher!

This is an interesting article from the latest Harvard Review regarding proposed ways to improve our existing schools. http://hbr.org/2012/03/rethinking-school/ar/1

Competition is the only answer. We have enslaved entire cities to a failed public school system and damaged African Americans far worse then slavery ever did!