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PRESS RELEASE! ! Dr. Richard Brockel Interim Superintendent of Schools Hoboken Public School District 158 Fourth Street Hoboken, N.J. 07030 201-356-3608 Phone 201-356-3641 Fax www.hoboken.k12.nj.us !For Immediate Release Hoboken, New Jersey, March 23, 2015- !The Commissioner of Education, David Hespe, has been considering the Hoboken Public School Districts challenge to the HoLa Charter Schools expansion of its grade levels to include Grades 7 and 8. This challenge was based upon the segregative effect of the continuing expansion on the Citys public schools and the ever increasing financial burden for the School District, which must pay a per student tuition for its resident students who are enrolled in the Charter School. After forcing the citizens of Hoboken to wait several months for his decision, Commissioner Hespe issued a letter on Friday, March 20th ruling against the Hoboken School Districts challenge. The decision is flawed because it relies on Census population data (children 0 to 17 years) rather than school population data (5 to 18). Additionally, the Commissioner ignored completely the Hoboken Board of Educations pleas to assess the socioeconomic and financial impact of HoLas proposed expansion on the Hoboken Public Schools. This decision is extremely disappointing. The Board of Education and I will be assessing our options due to the Commissioners failure to assess fully all the issues in this critical matter. !!!!!!!!

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