Eric, no venom just reality. The truth hurts but things can change.
I have some constructive ideas also, but let me expand a little on the reality of this situation. The reality is that when a young family decides to move into a town, the first thing discussed with the real estate agent is the school system. Test scores are a huge selling point. People like Dan Kirsch can put as much spin on the test scores as they want. I think many people looking to start or raise a family are not going to buy a house in a town where the test scores are as low as they are in Hackensack. Now before you get your feathers ruffled, I don’t have concrete statistical data (neither do you, by the way), but I will say this. It's my opinion that many, not all, of the people with kids that buy in town are just happy they can realize the dream of home ownership, even if it means sending their kids to a school system that needs work. In their eyes owning a home in Hackensack is better than renting an apartment in Oradell and sending their kids to better school system like River Dell.
Also, your plan about the luxury buildings is off base. The people that are buying luxury condos or renting luxury apartments are dual income, no kids couples. Once they have kids, they’re into a house in a town with a better school system. Or like myself and so many other parents in Hackensack, they send their kids to private schools. Have you spoken to anyone within the school system to find out how many kids go to private school?
Here are some of my constructive ideas:
1. Crackdown on the illegal students. This is a huge problem to the students and the taxpayers. Take whatever means possible and sue the parents to recover the cost.
2. If the language barrier is the biggest hurdle to overcome in educating these kids, educate them in their native tongue and teach them English separately. In other words if the student only understands Spanish, what sense does it make to have an English speaking teacher teach him Math or Social Studies or Science, etc.? The kid isn’t going to learn because he can’t fully understand what the teacher is saying. Have a Spanish speaking teacher teach the kids in Spanish. Then teach the student English separately.
3. If this isn’t possible, do what it takes to educate the parents about the importance of learning English and seeing that their kids learn it as well. Where are all the social groups, churches, politicians, etc. to help these people learn English? Don’t make them learn English, encourage them to learn English. Bombard the neighborhoods with opportunities at church, school, home, possibly work, etc. How great would it be for Councilman Meneses to teach English to a group of children after Mass on Sunday? It’s a community effort.
4. Ask “people like Anthony” why they send their kids to private schools. Send out a questionnaire asking what it would take to send their kids to the Hackensack schools. This is the first year I’ve ever seen HHS advertise an Open House. Parents can go and speak with administrators, teachers, coaches and students about everything HHS has to offer. GREAT IDEA! The school system should do that with all the schools. Give “people like Anthony” a reason to send their kids to the schools.
Eric, you think the Hackensack schools would be better if landlords “attracted a higher level of tenet.” In your eyes, that will raise the test scores at Hillers and the other schools. I think if you give parents a reason to send their kids to the schools, they will. I want the school system to show me that despite the huge immigrant population and economic situation many of the parents are in, the Hackensack schools rose to the occasion and educated their kids. I want to see that all of those tax dollars went to reinventing how kids in a unique situation like Hackensack’s became educated enough to pass any test they had to take. Why can’t I expect that if my son is the 17th smartest kid in his graduating class he’ll get a scholarship to a four year university instead of attending a community college?
As for the spin from Dan Kirsch, stop making excuses! He wants the kids tested as 5th graders to see their progress. Aren’t they tested as 8th graders? Also, why hasn’t the BOE sued the state and/or federal government to stop programs like “No Child Left Behind” if they think the programs don’t work? Enough with the spin. “As an elected Hackensack school board member,” roll up your sleeves and get to work.