International Charter School Zoning Unresolved

Photo by Marc Mooney

For the second time in three months, South Brunswick zoning officials have postponed their decision on a site plan for the Princeton International Academy Charter School (PIACS), citing lack of documents submitted by the Mandarin language-immersion school.

This was a continuation of April’s meeting, with exasperated parents, teachers and public school administrators opposed to the charter school plan filling most of the South Brunswick Senior Center, wearing bright yellow lapel stickers that said “NO BOUTIQUE SCHOOLS.”

What should be a routine up-or-down vote, based solely on zoning ordinance criteria of use, occupation, and safety, is complicated by local school politics.  The PIACS application, involving a school enrollment of only about 170 children in kindergarten through 2nd grade, has become a lightning rod for New Jersey’s anti-charter school movement.

Some PIACS opponents appear truly concerned about student safety, particularly on Perrine Road, where the school proposes to locate.

Gary McCartney, superintendent of South Brunswick Public Schools, said no variances should be granted that could jeopardize student travel to and from school.

“I want to make sure that this school is as safe for our students as are all of our 12 schools in South Brunswick,” he said.

But PIACS spokesman Parker Block said concerns over safety and zoning are overblown - “part of their playbook to run out the clock.”

PIACS has until June 30th to get site approval for the coming school year.  Block says that may not happen, because the charter school applicants have not filed for an extension to July 15th.  The zoning board is scheduled to meet again on the matter on July 7.  It meets only once a month.

Charter school advocates insist their motive is not to siphon money from existing schools and degrade public education, but to stimulate all schools to offer greater choice and to raise standards, particularly in light of the growing recognition that the U.S. has what some call a “global achievement gap.”

PIACS will offer not only Chinese language immersion, but also an elite Asian-style mathematics program modeled on one in Singapore. 

To those who argue the three school districts affected by PIACS are top-tier performing districts and that therefore charter schools are unnecessary, Block says we should be raising the bar: “Not just our worst-performing school districts, but even our best-performing school districts are at a comparative disadvantage with our European and Asian peers.”

In a time of economic stress, when public budgets are facing cuts, such arguments are meeting steadfast resistance by public school administrators, regardless of the laudable goals propounded.

It doesn’t help the PIACS cause when the new charter school organizers announce that kindergartners will enjoy a full day of school, instead of the half day at all other West Windsor-Plainsboro district schools.

Huffed one board of education member from West Windsor, “So it’s good enough for the charter school, but not for 98 percent of the other children of kindergarten age?”

About the Author

Marc Mooney

Marc Mooney is a longtime television reporter, anchor and writer/producer.  He has worked for Tribune, USA Broadcasting, CNN, NBC and numerous local stations around the country.  More recently Marc has been doing business in China, helping U.S. and Chinese companies do business together.