Emily Jabbour to State of New Jersey - 'Shut down Elysian Charter school'

Councilwoman Emily Jabbour sought the closure of Hoboken's Elysian Charter School

As a member of the City Council, Emily Jabbour sent a 2020 letter to the NJ Department of Education commissioner, Dr. Lamont Repoilet, in an effort to block the expansion of the Elysian Charter School.

Based on her ideological definition of "equity," Jabbour also sought to have the Elysian Charter School closed and "rejoin" the Hoboken public school district.

The Elysian Charter School is the oldest charter school in Hoboken, founded in 1997 by a group called Mile Square Families, a collection of local parents who wanted to improve public education in the Mile Square City.

It opened its doors later in 1997, seeking to establish a progressive, hands-on, and child-centric model of learning. 

In recent years, Hoboken school board members and city officials have clamored for space in the lower education ages with population growth. That growth could see accommodation with offers from charter schools in the Mile Square City.

Based on information and belief, the following is a copy of a letter from Councilwoman Emily Jabbour seeking the closure of the Elysian Charter School, the oldest operating charter school in Hoboken and among the oldest in the entire state of New Jersey.

In Hoboken, Elysian frames its education mission with a focus "to build an active community of lifelong learners, provide a safe and nurturing environment, and educate each and every child to their fullest potential."

Not long after, Emily Jabbour was revealed as a behind-closed-doors backer to impose a new $241 million high school to replace the existing underutilized one, with Mayor Ravi Bhalla and the Hoboken school board.

Members of the Hoboken public, upon learning of the plan, forced the issue to a ballot referendum in early 2022 and overwhelmingly defeated the effort.  

Emily Jabbour is not available for comment on this story.