PEOC Rally at Hazel and Marshall Street in Paterson

Parents demand promises be kept
By Orville Morales
September, 7 2010
Corner of Hazel Street and Marshall, Paterson, NJ
*This article will be seen in Print in the Passaic County Pulse

Mayra Perischi-Concerned Parent and member of Paterson Education Organizing Committee

Paterson-It is a beautiful afternoon day on the 1st day of school for Paterson Children. It is a time where they get a fresh start in their new classes, meet their new teachers and in some cases, even wear new uniforms to school. It is a day full of hope for parents and children alike. While some parents picked up their children from schools, other parents, community leaders, and school staff gathered outside the abandoned school construction site on Hazel and Marshall streets to protest budget cuts in the FY 2011 budget that they say have led to overcrowded under-served school and could compromise arts, music, and language classes.

Henry Sosa, community leader, parent and member of PEOC

 Community leader and co-organizer of this rally Henry Sosa says, “Legislators passed the Governor’s awful budget this year and look at what’s happened! Whether it’s music class or foreign language instruction, Trenton’s budget cuts have limited our children’s opportunities and compromised the quality of their education. This budget may leave no millionaire behind, but what does it do for our kids?”

As the participants of the rally shouted “Parents United, Will Never Be Defeated” or “Education not Incarceration”, “Budget Cuts, Christie Got To Pay”, many driver-bys slowed down honking their horns in support of the parents cause.

Speakers also maintained that many Paterson schools are overcrowded as well as under-served because of the current administration’s refusal to fund school construction. They pointed to the construction site on Hazel and Marshall Street as an example. Originally approved in 2003 and included in the 2008 capital plan, construction was halted by the School Development Authority in January of 2009. Parents noted that nearby School 9 serves 1000 students in a building originally designed to serve 800, and that last year’s average class size was 32, well above the 24 pupil-per-classroom limit recommended by state law.

Unfinished Construction Site on Hazel and Marshall street

School Board Commissioner Chris Irving, who was present during the rally, felt that “This rally is about a state that does not value Paterson Children. How can you start a project, give a community hope for the education of their children and then drop the project and deny quality schools from being provided?

Rosie Grant of Paterson Education Fund echoed the sentiment by expressing that “kids are in overcrowded schools when they are in need of their already approved schools”

As seen on NJSpotlight.com, the Christie Administration approves $270 Million in Facilities Grants for School Districts; however, upon reviewing the selected School Development Authority/Abbott school construction list, Paterson was not one of those cities to receive funds. Thus begging the question that these passionate parents want answered, why were our children promised new schools in 2008 but left behind in 2010?

This rally was organized by the Paterson Education Organizing Committee, a chapter of the Statewide Education Organizing Committee and a member of the Better Choices for New Jersey Campaign.

Better Choices for New Jersey is a coalition of over 75 organizations that fights for alternative revenue solutions to budget cuts that impact working families.