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& Kids SERVING ABERDEEN, HAZLET, HOLMDEL, under? KEYPORT, MATAWAN AND MIDDLETOWN Page 31 Page 49 APRIL 8, 1998 40 CENTS VOLUME 28, NUMBER 14 Charter school appeal denied

Matawan-Aberdeen oppose the concept of charter schools, he is against the law that requires funding for District plans to take charter schools from local school districts. appeal to next level The approval of the Patrick Douglas Charter School has led to the recent for­ ______BY BEVERLY McGEE______mation of Taxpayers Against the Charter . Correspondent School (TACS), a group of district resi­ dents opposed to the idea of local tax dol­ decision handed down last week lars funding charter schools since taxpay­ by the state Board of Education ers are not given the opportunity to vote upholds the approval of the A on such schools within their districts. Patrick Douglas Charter School to be “We plan on continuing this battle,” located in the Matawan-Aberdeen TACS founder Mary Wakeham said last Regional School District. week. “This is taxation without The school was approved by state representation.” Commissioner of Education Leo Klagholz Wakeham also believes that funding early this year. for charter schools should come from the The April 1 ruling by the state board state. was the result of an appeal filed by the “We have to keep up the pressure on Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of our legislators (to get the law changed),” Education. The approvals of 13 other she said. schools across the state were also upheld A group of TACS members recently by the state board. traveled to Trenton to do just that, Wake­ Reacting to the latest development ham said, and the group is currently unit­ within the charter school issue, opponents ing with other residents statewide who op­ of the Patrick Douglas Charter School pose charter schools within their own dis­ (and the state’s charter school law) have tricts. vowed to continue their fight, while the Wakeham also took the opportunity to charter school’s founder asked that people answer accusations that TACS is some­ further research the school. how connected to the New Jersey Educa­ In addition, a statewide group con­ tion Association. cerned -with choice in Education has start­ “We have no affiliation (with any other ed a fund to provide legal support for the organization),” she said. “We are parents school should it have to face the district in Annette Chivers of hugs her children after being separated from and taxpayers.” them for six months during her tour of duty on the supply ship USS Seattle. The court. Tammy Ward, a founder of the Patrick ship returned to its home port at Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck on Superintendent of Schools Michael Douglas Charter School, also responded to Friday. (Jackie Pollack/Greater Media) Klavon said last week that the state the decision of the state board and to the board’s ruling came as no surprise, since district’s plan to continue its appeal of the “the governor appoints the commissioner school’s approval. and the governor appoints the state board While the state board’s denial o f the (of education).” H o m e c o m i n g district’s appeal was good news, Ward The state’s charter school legislation also said, ‘T d like the community to take was signed into law two years ago under a good look at what’s going on with the USS Seattle returns to Leonardo from Persian Gulf Gov. Christine Whitman. charter school. The board’s attorneys have already 1,000 people expectantly searching fpr “People have only heard Mr. Klavon’s BY LINDA D eNICOLA been instructed, Klavon said, to enter their first glimpse of the vessel. presentation of the (issue),” she noted. “federal and/or state court to file a further Staff Writer Around noon, a group cheer rose as the The schools founders hope to schedule appeal.” he supply ship USS Seattle massive 795-foot cruiser cleared Sandy at least two more i