Staff, students, and administration took to Independence Park to celebrate school pride and voice their opposition to a possible "turnaround" status imposed by the Superintendent of Newark Public Schools. 

Hundreds gathered in the park Saturday afternoon where they celebrated with several activities touting the school's years of academic and extracurricular success. 

The school district announced earlier that nine schools,  including East Side schools, will become "turnaround schools" during the next school year in an effort to correct what the district called "struggling performance".

School officials said the "turnaround" will mean that teachers will be asked to sign election-to-work agreements, which may require them to work for a longer school day, go through two additional weeks of professional development in the summer and work on some Saturdays. 

Several  community organizations in the city's Ironbound section where East Side is located are opposed to the districts actions calling it a clear attempt to disrupt the positive/successful outcomes of the school and a clear attempt to take over the community.