By JESSICA HARDING
Staff Writer
RED BANK — The New Jersey Department of Education has ruled to renew the Red Bank Charter School (RBCS) for an additional five years.
The decision for the five-year renewal was made based on an investigation into the school’s environment, interactions among staff and students and the overall way the school was run, according to a report that was announced on March 1.
The acting State Education Commissioner, Kimberley Harrington, said in the report that the school was “faithful to its mission and has implemented the key design elements included in its charter.”
For the past few months, two groups have been at odds over the way the RBCS was run.
Some members of the Red Bank community felt as though the charter school encouraged segregation with a biased lottery system, while others believed it was inclusive to any and every student.
The Fair Schools Group, consisting of upset parents, had contacted the Latino Coalition of New Jersey, a civil rights organization located in Freehold that was formed in 2003. The coalition came on board in January of 2016 as the groups filed a civil rights complaint against the school.
RBCS Principal Meredith Pennotti could not be happier with the decision.
“For nearly two decades, Red Bank Charter School has provided a choice in public education for Red Bank families, and we are thrilled that the Department of Education has given us the opportunity to continue serving our community.”
For more information or to enter the lottery system for the 2017-18 school year, visit redbankcharterschool.com.
