Parents: Students Would Be Welcomed in Bradley Gardens

Despite some happiness after the board of education approved a three-site model for its ESL program Tuesday, parents of students expressed their disgust at one comment from a board member that one resident called “rude” and “totally uncalled for.”

In discussing their thoughts on the proposed three-site model for the ESL program—which will have students at , John F. Kennedy and primary schools, instead of the originally proposed one-site model at Bradley Gardens Primary School—board president Evan Lerner said he was concerned that the English Language Learner [ELL] students would not be welcomed at Bradley Gardens.

“There was a sizeable number of people that were so against, I felt some kids would not be welcomed in this school, and I didn’t want to partake in that,” he said of his reason for supporting the three-site model.

But many residents said they were offended by the implication that they would not welcome the new students.

“It was stated that Bradley Gardens School is a small neighborhood school and would welcome any and all students,” said resident Jeff Cichocki. “As parents of two multi-ethnic students, I resent the implication that all students would not be welcome. We celebrate diversity.”

“The board should not propagate us as unwelcoming to any families in the district,” he added.

But Lerner said he did not say the students and parents at Bradley Gardens would not be welcoming, but that he was concerned.

“I said that following the last meeting and with all the objections, I left with some concern that some of the kids may not be welcomed,” he said.

Resident Vince Cirianni said he attended both district forums held last week about the ESL magnet school proposal, and it was clear that the option for parents to opt out of the program and not enroll their children was going to be a problem.

“I want to remove the school name for a minute, and I think the absence of a full program offering all of the bases covered and without an opt-out option, I think that is the reason [for the issues],” he said. “Maybe it would take another forum for Bradley Gardens parents to tell the other parents that the students are welcome at our school.”

Rosa Fischer, of Raritan, said she also believes the comments were offensive in suggesting that Bradley Gardens would not be welcoming. And, she said, she does not believe the district approached this new program properly.

“The elected officials have a responsibility to unite and represent the entire district,” she said. “And I think from a public relations perspective, the district handled this poorly. There should not have been two public forums, I think it sent a precedent that the administration didn’t want to put the two groups together and if that’s not what was meant, the perception is there.”

One forum was held Wednesday for parents of ELL students, and another was held Thursday for parents of Bradley Gardens students.

In addition, Fischer said, parents of Bradley Gardens students should have been involved in the discussions from the beginning.

“This is a black eye on the district, and that’s another perspective,” she said.

But Lerner said the goal of the board is not necessarily to unite people.

“It is to provide kids with the best education possible,” he said.

And board member Jeffrey Brookner opted to clarify comments he had made about messages he received from ESL parents who did not want to send their children to another school. He had similar concerns that the students would not be comfortable in the new school, away from their neighborhoods.

“My personal opinion is that the vast majority of Bradley Gardens parents would be welcoming to students, but I heard from two ELL parents that they were concerned, not me,” he said. “I thought there’s a chance parents wouldn’t send their kids, and my concern was never that once they were sent there they wouldn’t be welcomed, but that parents wouldn’t send their kids because they were concerned.”

But the overall feeling from residents was that the comments concerning a lack of welcome from Bradley Gardens parents were not necessary.

“I thought what was said was rude and totally uncalled for,” one resident said. “Nothing could be further from the truth that the kids wouldn’t be welcomed and I think they are owed an apology.”