N.J. school group criticizes Camden's charter plans

The Camden School District has not been shy in its support of renaissance schools, but not everyone is on board.

Save Our Schools NJ, a grassroots organization in favor of traditional public education, has called out the school district for moving forward with renaissance projects without final authorization from the state.

Earlier this year, Mastery Charter network — based out of Philadelphia — and Uncommon Charter Schools were named by the district to open renaissances schools this fall.

In a letter to New Jersey Education Commissioner David Hespe, Save Our Schools officials noted the Camden School District has been premature in sending out renaissance recruitment materials to city homes.

The organization also requested applications submitted by Mastery and Uncommon to run renaissance schools be made public.

Camden parent MoNeke Ragsdale said charters are taking resources away from the traditional public schools. This year, $55 million of the school's estimated $300 million budget was used to funds charters. Next year, that number is projected to reach $71 million.

"I am amazed that Camden Superintendent (Paymon) Rouhanifard is encouraging public school students to move to charter schools," said Ragsdale, a Save Our Schools NJ member.

"This is just wrong and highlights that the Christie administration is trying to privatize Camden public schools, against the wishes of Camden residents."

Rouhanifard, appointed by Christie in August, has stated on multiple occasions the Urban Hope Act – legislation that created renaissance Schools — helps bring high-quality schools to the city.

"Our students and families deserve excellent schools, and they deserve them as soon as possible, he noted. "We are not sure why a small group of critics is against this progress."

Rouhanifard said recruitment materials given out only notified families of a new public school option that could be opening in their neighborhood.

"Instead of hiding this information ... we shared this information directly and transparently with our community. We believe families deserve to know what opportunities could be available to them for 2014-15."

Executive Director of Save Our Schools Susan Cauldwell wants the state to step in and stop Mastery and Uncommon Schools from recruiting students for the 2014-2015 school year

"We ask that you direct Camden and these entities to stop such activity immediately," she wrote in the letter to Hespe.

Department of Education spokesman Michael Yaple said his office does not comment on complaints or issues brought to the commissioner. But he added the renaissance school application involves a two-part process, and the department is in the first phase.

"It's possible to advance a broad and bold strategy to improve all of our public schools while fully complying with regulations, and that's what we're doing," said Camden schools spokesman Brendan Lowe.

"Our students get one shot at a public education, and they deserve the best education possible."

Reach Phil Dunn at (856) 486-2456 or pdunn@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @philmdunn.