Christie Clashes with Charter School Opponents in New Jersey

In a town hall meeting last week, NJ Gov. Chris Christie clashed with a local resident who challenged him on his charter schools policy.

After New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed into law a new charter school expansion policy in the state that permits nonpublic schools to be converted into charter schools, his administration has met opposition and support from every corner of the state.

At a town hall meeting in Cherry Hill, Christie was confronted by a vocal opponent to the planned charter school in the district, writes Joe Cooney at the Asbury Park Press.

About an hour into the meeting, Cherry Hill resident Alan Erlich interrupted Christie, and as the confrontation began, emotions quickly ran high.

“I don’t have a solution for every problem,” Christie said to Erlich.

“You had an opportunity to speak before. Here’s the bottom line: I don’t have a solution for everything.”

After Erlich accused the governor of passing the charter school’s proposal because the group was a Christie supporter, the governor lost his temper.

“It’s guys like you who are rude and yell out in the middle when I’m trying to answer this woman’s question that does not allow for civil discourse in this state,” the governor said, referring to the fact that the exchange came in the middle of an answer he was giving to another attendee.

“Let me tell you something,” Christie continued, “If you don’t like the answer, I’m sorry. That’s the answer.”

Despite losing his cool, the Governor wrapped up meeting calmly.

Erlich said afterwards:

“Him calling me rude didn’t bother me.

“He called me rude, I called him a liar. What bothered me is that he’s still avoiding the questions asked of him about the charter schools.”

The charter school is set to open in September for K-4 students from Cherry Hill, Voorhees, Lawnside and Somerdale. Regis Academy’s initial funding includes $1.9 million from the Cherry Hill district and about $725,500 from Voorhees, which has been met with much contempt by locals, who say the publicly funded charter school will divert badly needed tax dollars from local districts.

Christie has, in the past, looked to appease charter school opponents by looking at legislation that would require local approval for such schools.

“My belief is that we should be focusing on charter schools in failing school districts,” Christie said at the meeting.

“I do not believe that charter schools are best suited in districts, in general, that are successful districts.”

Comments

Linda Brees

January 24, 2012 at 2:25 pm

Well, he did forgo a sexually offensive innuendos this time, so kudos I suppose, but he still managed to be a condescending windbag. This man is completely incapable of addressing criticism of his policies in a mature manner.

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Joe

January 24, 2012 at 2:27 pm

What did he say except the truth that you can’t look to the government to solve every damn problem? He is making options available to parents who are unhappy with their school options but admits that, while still a step forward, is not the end-all be-all of school issues. Addressing unrealistic expectations doesn’t make him a windbag.

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tired teacher

January 24, 2012 at 3:25 pm

sure it does, when the parents don’t want it, they are constantly protesting the opening of the school, petitioning the state board to not allow it to open

obviously they don’t want it, and he does cause he has an agenda. on top of his attitude

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Joe

January 25, 2012 at 8:07 am

If parents didn’t want it, they’d hardly be enrolling their kids. Charter schools are only useful if anyone enrolls and as there are waiting lists for most charter schools, it’s disingenuous to argue that parents don’t want them.

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tired teacher

January 25, 2012 at 9:14 am

it is not disingeuous. students from outside districts can go to the charter. not just students from that district.

the parents from that district, who are happy with their school system, don’t want their tax money being removed from their school and their children to support a school that other parents from outside the district want.

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Mark Peters

January 25, 2012 at 12:19 pm

I thought that funding for a charter school comes from districts based on the number of students from that district that attend the charter school. If no students from a district attend a particular charter school, the district sends no money to that charter school. Am I in error?

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tired teacher

January 25, 2012 at 6:45 pm

i believe there is also a base funding level involved.

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Shelty

January 28, 2012 at 1:48 pm

Its Time for the 1% Solution.

Have public schools have the right after documented interventions to expel ODD and behavior problem students with the district giving a per capita voucher to that child’s parent/guardian, to find another school

Put the onus on the parent to shop for an alternate education. Maybe the parent can buy a Charter/religious prep school, even the school Chriastie sends his kids to.

I bet you that given that right, public schools would significantly close the achievement gap.

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