The Hoboken Board of Education launched a survey to gather feedback for a five-year strategic plan that includes facilities upgrades.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“The Hoboken Public School District is embarking on a comprehensive journey to develop a new 5-year strategic plan, a guiding document that will direct all district actions and decisions in the coming years,” Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson wrote in The Herald last week.
“Central to this process is the revision of the district’s vision and mission statements, along with the establishment of strategic goals. Two of these goals will be particularly significant: one anchored in The Portrait of a Hoboken High School Graduate, which will define the skills and attributes our students should possess upon graduation, and the other in the district’s Long Range Facilities Plan (LRFP), which will ensure that our educational facilities support these aspirations.”
She continues that she is currently working with the district’s architect, facilities director, and BOE Facilities Committee to update the LRFP, as well as engaging with students about The Portrait of a Hoboken High School Graduate.
The online survey is due on December 13th and asks for a tagline, vision, and mission statements, as well as evaluating district goals that include supporting students and teachers needs, implementing innovative programs, and maintaining safe facilities.
A vision statement outlines a school district’s long-term goals and aspirations.
“The district’s vision statement driving that plan was as follows: The Hoboken Public School District will be recognized as a premier educational choice and widely known as a best-practice model for academic growth, high quality instruction, innovative and equitable programs, engagement, facilities and personalized pathways that are essential for college, career and life-preparedness in our ever-changing, interconnected global society,” one open-ended question asks.
“What is the most important goal or aspiration for the next five years would you like to see in the district’s vision statement?”
In January 2022, Hoboken voters rejected a $241 million school referendum by a roughly 2-1 margin, with many expressing pause with the plan since they felt it was rushed.
In an October 15th letter to Johnson and BOE President Ailene McGuirk, Mayor Ravi Bhalla expressed concerns over the new idea because of what happened nearly three years ago.
“It has recently come to my attention that the Board of Education may be considering bringing forward another referendum to fund the construction of a new high school in Hoboken. If this information is accurate, I want to ensure that this process is initiated in a diligent and thoughtful manner,” he wrote at the time.
” … Needless to say, collectively it is in the community’s best interests to learn from the challenges and pitfalls we faced during the 2022 referendum, which left a large portion of our community divided, and ultimately without a new high school. To avoid a similar situation, I am asking for a thorough and inclusive and community-driven public process before any ballot question is introduced.”
Bhalla also made note that he supported that referendum on looks forward to working with the school board on whatever future plans they decide to pursue.
Responding on the same day, McGuirk said a strategic planning process is not the same as a referendum, which is not currently in the cards but will likely be necessary sooner than later.
“The strategic planning process will involve opportunities for the entirety of Hoboken to make their voices heard … Simultaneously, we are engaged in two additional forward looking projects. First, we are in the market for additional space for our state-funded preschool program,” she states in the October 15th letter.
“Second, we are exploring any and all opportunities to seek funds and/or legislation that will mitigate taxpayer expense for future investments in school facilities. As you know, the referendum process is how school construction projects are funded here in New Jersey …. There will likely be a need for not one, but several school construction referendums in the City of Hoboken’s future.”
She further stated that while the outcome of the 2022 referendum was not the one the district hoped for, the intent of the project was “pure” since “strong public schools are the bedrock of strong communities.”
McGuirk also offered to have her and Johnson meet with Bhalla in person at his convenience.
BOE officials did not return an email seeking further comment.
Can the taxpayer residents of Hoboken ever trust Dr. Christina Johnson and her School Board to even conduct a fair survey after what they experienced with the stealth boondoggle sports center/high school and the resulting crushing tax increase to pay for it ?
I doubt it. I don’t.
Ailene must be going crazy, more than one referendum is needed. Why dont you stop raising the taxes over 17% and focus on getting the budget in line.
The worst part is that they expect everyone to pay their taxes but the survey is only for parents. And when non parents speak up they try to demonize them like cat ladies. So much for progressive values.
The 2 previous comments are spot on. Regarding the lack of trust in the superintendent, I cannot forget or forgive the fact that she misrepresented her credentials to get the job, and worked for SEVEN YEARS for the Hoboken School District before she earned her PhD, yet told the board she had the degree, demanded to be called “Dr. Johnson” and signed communications that way. Really shady stuff which makes her another Hudson County corrupt politician more than an educator or role model.
Will they include a vision for an ice rink again? All those Jersey City kids need ice time in Hoboken.
Surveying parents instead of tax payers illustrates that nothing was learned from the last go around. It would be helpful to have at least one member of the school board who felt compelled to engage the whole community with the understanding that if there are legitimate interests and needs, a case can be made and supported.
But since there is no transparency and no accountability– fictional school population projections form the basis of “plans” and 17% increases are needed to maintain a struggling school district that already consumes more resource per student than most at a growth rate far higher than inflation.
Since Mayor Bhalla has been behind the selection of all of the members of the Dr. Johnson’s rubber stamp Hoboken School Board to have Ms. McGuirk and pretend to be willing to meet with his is hypocritical.
The usual HBOE stance is we don’t answer to the public and them not returning calls is just another reason to never trust them.