Members of the IS 78 cheerleader squad pose near a sign that makes their feelings abundantly clear.

Inside the school, the community showed up en masse to oppose the co-location.

Holli Hupart (at left) graduated from IS 78, has taught there for 26 years and lives in the community. She was joined by her daughters Pamela and Samantha, also IS 78 graduates.

Staff members from PS 203, a feeder school for IS 78, lent their support at the hearing. The proposed charter is an elementary school that would siphon students from their classrooms.

PS 203 paraprofessional Maureen Maiocco and the school’s payroll secretary Jeanne Byrnes attend the hearing.

Band director Alexander Kaminnik led the band in a musical interlude. Band and culinary arts school programs are at risk of losing space to the charter school.

Richard Mantell, the UFT vice president for middle schools, lends his voice to the cause.

Dorothy D’Aleo, parent coordinator. Parent leaders were credited with making sure the auditorium was packed with a cross-section of people from the community, including elected officials.

Letitia James, the Democratic nominee for Public Advocate, was joined by other elected officials at the hearing. From left: Assemblyman Alan Maisel, Councilmember Lewis A. Fidler and state Sen. John Sampson.

Angel-Lore Dorsinvil, a math teacher and after-school step and cheer coach, goes through the paces with the squad. One of the cheers: “Brrr, it’s cold in here/We must not put charters/In the atmosphere.”

IS 78 Chapter leader Justin Schoen posed with the cheerleaders before heading into the hearing.

Can you hear us now? A poster says it loud and clear: “Save Our School/We don’t need a charter school.”