Debunking LIES about "violent" Hoboken District Schools

Excerpts from the certification of HoLa Executive Director Jennifer Sargent, supporting opposition to Hoboken BoE's Motion to Stay.

GA would like everyone to be on the same page about the Hoboken district schools.

Specifically, about allegations repeated ad nauseum that our schools are "among the most violent" in NJ with the "highest rates of vandalism" in the state.  These 'factoids' have been repeated so often, for so long, that like any Big Lie, they've become accepted as truth.

So accepted, HoLa's top admnistrator certified that HoLa's expansion is the only thing standing between "innocent" children and that seething pit of violence, vandalism and debauchery ("pornography") better known as Hoboken Junior/Senior High.

Wow. 

As a parent of a 7th grader at HJSH, GA doesn't recognize that violent, scary place where kids are allowed to surf  porn sites and game on classroom computers.

But hey, don't listen to me.  Let's look at the most current NJ Department of Education data for 2013-2014 

GA has highlighted districts which have reported the same or higher total number of incidents as Hoboken City for "violence" and "vandalism."  

All districts self-report.
  
 




Comments

  1. GA, totally love you and all you do. Honest question; pls see http://nj1015.com/does-your-child-attend-one-of-new-jerseys-most-violent-schools/ Is there a distinction between the districts and the high school? If we are talking about the Hoboken High School, are the statistics different? Loyal Reader

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    1. I love you too, but that's our little secret. :-)

      The NJDOE data covers all schools in the entire district, elementary through HS. Individual schools are not broken out. There used to be an "Unsafe School" reporting requirement for No Child Left Behind, but there's been nothing posted on the NJDOE site since 2011. No Hoboken School ever appeared on that list.

      Thanks for bringing up the notorious Patch 'poll' that did so much damage to the Hoboken district. I wroteabout that - see: Cooked Poll. Look at all the exclusions- it is total crap.

      Patch excluded:
      1. Weapons incidents: guns, knives, etc.
      2. Drug use/sale/possession incidents: 'crack' cocaine, 'weed', alcohol, etc.
      3. Vandalism
      4. Bullying
      5. Districts with less than 500 students
      6. Districts that do not have High Schools
      7. Patch only used the "Violence" totals

      I complained to the Patch Editor who responded, "I like to make lists."

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    2. Dear GA, Patch also excluded ALL CHARTER SCHOOLS.

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    3. Hoboken Charter School HS has 0 incidents of violence. Isn't that amazing?

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    4. Shocking!
      You don't suppose...

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  2. https://homeroom3.state.nj.us/DOE_EVVRS/evvrs2/pdf/Appendix_1314.pdf
    GA, IF I am doing my calculations correctly (i may not be), it looks like, based on these stats, Hoboken is far ahead of other Hudson County Schools in this area of condern - I looked at percentage of "violence" per enrollment.
    Maybe I'm missing something, Loyal Reader

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    1. You have got to be kidding me! Less than 2% of the kids bicker and this is a 5 alarm, run from the schools problem?
      Imagine your shock; 5 incidents of bickering between students among 250 kids in one year!
      It's common knowledge that hola has some issues with behavior in the upper grades, I am guessing they are not shocked that less than 2% of the population may bicker.
      Kids have disagreements. Yes, I know to someone like you this is unimaginable, but it is a reality nonetheless. All parents know this.

      Even more absurd, these numbers are SELF REPORTED!

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    2. Hey, anon if we are going to talk ratios, then Hoboken Charter School is more violent than Hoboken public schools and the bullying ratio in Hoboken Charter school is off the charts compared to Hoboken.
      4 out of 279.
      6 out of 279 vs 5 out of 1970

      See how absurd your logic is and see how absurd these report are?

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  3. I would also take the enrollment into account when looking at these numbers. 31 incidents per 1970 kids (Hoboken) seems more violent than 31 incidents per 9555 kids (Bayonne).

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  4. GA, please see:

    https://homeroom3.state.nj.us/DOE_EVVRS/Incidents.do

    And, if you look at the comparable incidents of "violence" percentages of the Hoboken Charter Schools, (site above) there is a huge difference.
    Loyal Reader

    Interested in your opinion as a mom. Thanks.

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    1. It seems like this post has made some Dark Siders nervous. Oooga Booga! Watch out for the truth- it bites.

      Both of your links returned a "Session Expired" message.

      It is possible that in 2013-2014, 3 reported incidents of "violence" (fighting) per month in 5 schools was the highest in Hudson County. Hoboken is comparatively low in vandalism, drug and weapons incidents. Aren't you lowering the bar?

      Sargent said "highest vandalism, among the most violent" in the state. Clearly FALSE.

      The point is, Sargent refers to the NJDOE data to make her bogus claims that HHS is "the most violent, has the highest rate of vandalism in the state." It clearly does not. FAR FROM IT. She has lied under oath, and all who are trying to trash our district are liars, and lies must be debunked.

      My opinion as a mom? You sure you don't want my opinion as a dad? How about a fish? Or a fairy with wings?

      Hoboken Junior/Senior HIgh Schools is working out beautifully for us.

      As for Charters... all of the district NJDOE stats are SELF- reported. Are all incidents being reported? Do you know? A friend recounted an incident at one of the Charters a few years ago where the police were called over a fight. The NJDOE report for that year reflected "0" for "Violence".

      Hmmm, this one touched a nerve. Facts are like Kryptonite to a liar.

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  5. https://homeroom3.state.nj.us/DOE_EVVRS/Incidents.do

    Sadly, per NJ State site, above, virtualy all of the incidents occur at the Hoboken High School. Noticed a couple of "weapons" incidents.

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    1. Yes, 3 reported in Hoboken, 21 were reported in Jersey City, 14 reported in Guttenberg, 10 reported in West New York, 7 reported in North Bergen. Total 72 incidents in Hudson County in 2013-2014.

      Welcome to the 21st century.

      What turnip truck did you fall off of?

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    2. And I would be willing to bet that almost all the incidents at all the other school districts also happened at their high schools. Cops don't tend to be called to deal with fights between grade school aged kids on the playground. So please, stop making excuses for her spin. She was just doing HER JOB. And yeah, let us all remember she is a paid employee of HoLa, the school she helped set up. The woman is protecting her seat on the gravy train.

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    3. Protecting her seat? She created the seat and selected the people who would oversee her.

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  6. GA, there are many HJSHS parents interested in testifying at any hearing. They want to add their own "self report". Is that possible? I hope the Principal can address the court too! Any info on that?

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    1. Anecdotal evidence is the best evidence. -People who don't like data

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    2. you think these self reported, unverifiable numbers counts as "data". Let's say you do, Ms. Sargent was still not telling the truth even based on this "data". Anecdotal evidence from real live HJSHS students and parents has more weight than the assertion that Ms. Sargent pulled out ...of...um... thin air.

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  7. thanks for getting all this info out! What crap...its all self reported. Anyone thinks JC has only 52 incidences with 20,000 students, send them over I have a bridge to sell them

    Loyal Reader seems so "helpful"...."weapons" huh? Like the nerf gun some kid had......

    I hope some parents can come to the hearing!!

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    1. Nerf gun??? Lol. My friend's kid pushed a classmate because he wouldn't share his corndog. Mom got called in and the "violence" got reported. 6 year olds.

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  8. The link given shows ZERO incidents of any kind for the Hudson County Vocational Schools...otherwise know as the Hudson County Schools of Technology.

    Really ZERO...for 10 middle and high schools? Including Juvenile Detention? Am I reading that right? ZERO?

    these numbers are total BS and worthless

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  9. I am sorry if I offended anyone. I am not making things up, and Im not trying to pick a fight. I just did some independent research online and asked about what I found. Tha't all. I am sorry if i offended anyone, especially you, GA. I am not a dark sider. I am just a Hoboken dad. I will move along.

    I'll just leave it alone.

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    1. Get out of here with your links we don't agree with!

      We must purge the unbelievers! Strength through Unity, Unity through Faith.

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    2. Anon 5:21-

      No, all views are welcome. Trolls, not so much. We'll miss you (again).

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    3. Nooooooooooooooooooooo.....

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  10. Am I missing something? Where are the Charter Schools on this report?

    The state needs to get its act together. Charter schools are districts. They need to be reported like all other districts. What is going on here?

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    1. Charters are reported- see pages 14, 15:

      https://www.scribd.com/doc/269154240/Appendix-D-District-Totals-by-County-NJDOE-report-on-Violence-in-NJ-Schools-2013-2014

      The above is 'an apples-to-apples' comparison of (directly) state-funded districts compared to the Hoboken district.

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    2. Thank you GA.

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    3. Everyone knows all schools including hoboken's charter schools had a "few" incidents of what the state deems "violence". Yet some schools list 0, or 1..
      Don't get me wrong, I dont blame them, who would want to post that kind of info. But lets be real about the validity of the reports.
      Maybe the data should be published so parents can see what self reporting looks like and how valid and reliable it is.


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    4. Self-reporting leads to a lot of under reporting it would seem.

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  11. If the Appellate rejects the appeal, it will have made its decision on the fraudulent statements about violence/vandalism in Hoboken district schools. Oh what a tangled web we weave...

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    1. not if, when!

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    2. Make no mistake, the Appellate Division does not have the nerve to do the right thing, which is to deny the expansion. The only chance we have at a fair decision is at the NJ Supreme Court, just like the Abbott decision.

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  12. Interesting Hola strategy. They submit an application to the State for a million dollar expansion with no heads up to district parents or administration, they purposefully tie the expansion to their renewal so they can claim any concerns equals "the charter haters are out to shut us down", they storm multiple BOE meetings spending hours making insulting comments, their board and and administrators make up vicious stories about the district schools and post them online and even submit them to the State and then place an ad in this weeks Reporter asking why the BOE can't just get along? Crazy or genius?

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    1. Barbara Martinez is the Uncommon Charter Schools Chief External Officer. She works closely with the NJ Charter School Association and is the school board president of Hola. She is known to have great connections at the state and lots of $$$$$$ funding and support for her efforts.
      NJCSA is the NJ branch of national charter school association.They offer services of all kinds http://njcharters.org/docs/services_data.pdf . As is typical for expansions nationwide, the need to bash the local schools and board members is quid pro quo as is the need to follow up with cant we all get along, we are the little guys pleas. Standard operating procedure. This is not a grass roots operation, it is a proven standard that is applied nationwide in expansion situations, led by someone deeply involved with state and national charter organizations. Barbara Martinez

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    2. The people following likely believe they are part of an organic situation because they don't know that this is standard operating procedure nationwide.

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    3. https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/Default.aspx?EventID=861914
      http://njcharters.org/index.php/advocate-for-charter-schools
      http://njcharters.org/index.php/careers
      http://www.publiccharters.org/

      NJCSA recommends:
      Automatic Exemptions. Nationally, nearly two-thirds (25/40) of all jurisdictions with charter laws include a provision for automatic exemptions. New Jersey allows for waivers only. The law should automatically exempt charter schools from many of the state and district laws and regulation.
      Teacher Certification. Charter schools should have the freedom to hire staff that best aligns with the mission set forth by the school and approved during the authorization process. Requiring that all staff be certified limits the opportunity for innovative schools to hire experts in an industry to teach students. We recommend that the percent of the number of required certified teachers be lowered to 50%.

      • Strengthen the Act by providing schools with equitable operational funding so that students in the same district receive the same level of funding.
      • Utilize a fair funding formula that would accurately represent all of the funds allocated in the local school district and allow access to those funds for charter schools.
      • Provide for facilities funding for charter school buildings.
      • Allow charter schools to occupy public school buildings at no extra cost

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  13. www.state.nj.us/education/schools/vandv/1314/vandv.pdf

    Go to the above to view the State's official report on "...Violence, Vandalism, and Substance Abuse..." in all NJ public schools.

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  14. Does the Hoboken junior/senior high do much fund raising? Wallace? If so, how much money do they bring in annually for these efforts?

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    1. The schools are 70% free and reduced lunch. So very little funds are raised.

      Heard Hola took a class trip to Puerto Rico. Must be nice.

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    2. You're saying the district schools are too poor to raise money? That is the most ridiculous piece of crap I've ever heard, and it's insulting to all the parents in town. I guess that's the same mentality the BOE has when it comes to finding ways to cut their budget more than they already have. How much do the custodians make at Wallace?

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    3. Are there any Hola supporters with something to offer by way of an argument besides faked data and contempt for the BOE? So far that covers 100% of you folks. Don't you have a word or two to say on behalf of dual language immersion or something about YOUR school as defined in YOUR charter?

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    4. Are there any Hola supporters out there who can acknowledge that their $1,000,000 expansion will have an impact on the district students and it would only be natural for the Board trustees to want their day before a judge to state their case. No different than the Hola board fighting (albeit pressing hard in the court of public appeal) for their students. It is a mess all around. Not of anyone's making. Why all the hate and bile against the district schools and students. Do you think it makes a stronger case?

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    5. Anon 2:53: You said the district schools are too poor to raise money, not me. I simply stated a fact. Parents of free and reduced lunch children are not and can not afford $200 Gala tickets.

      If Hola was 70% free and reduced lunch there would be no "GALA's" nor "Swing for the Schools" FACT

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  15. Are you really comparing the fundraising abilities of a cheer leading team bake sale to the $200 per ticket galas that auction off weekends in their Vermont ski houses?

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    1. Anon 2:40 mentioned the cheer leaders so I figured fair question. The parents of the public school district are no different than charter parents in their skills, abilities and energy. They love their kids, love their schools and work hard to provide them both with any extras. A task made easier when you have the wealth and social connections of many in Hola.

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  16. Public salaries are public information no? BTW Wallace School is not only an emergency center it also hosts all City Rec basketball games. That must cost something.

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  17. I hope that some curious gal will probus into all the shady doings and people @ Hola.

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  18. some good news!: http://patch.com/new-jersey/hoboken/hoboken-school-goes-out-focus-0

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  19. According to the Hoboken Board of Education website, Connors met 100 percent of their performance targets in Student Achievement and Student Growth on NJASK 2013-14, making it the only school in the district to reach that achievement.

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  20. Can't wait to see everyone at the school board meeting tonight, it should be a great time.

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