CM Letitia James Joins UFT At Press Conference Announcing Lawsuit Re: DOE Plans for School Co-locations in Next Mayor’s Term

Council Member Letitia James Joins UFT At Press Conference Announcing Lawsuit to Block Administration Plans for School Co-locations in Next Mayor’s Term

Today (July 18th) New York City parents and teachers joined United Federation of Teachers (UFT) President Michael Mulgrew and elected officials to protest Mayor Bloomberg's efforts to saddle New York City's next mayor with his failed school policies.

During his final months in City Hall, Mayor Bloomberg is trying to cement plans for a dozen or more co-locations that would not open until long after he leaves office.

The UFT will file a lawsuit Thursday in New York State Supreme Court to stop the Department of Education from starting these co-locations- projects that attempt to bind the next mayoral administration to the same failed education agenda.

"Eight years was enough, and twelve years has been too long-- the  DOE is asking us to vote for charter schools housed in public schools years in advance," said Council Member Letitia James. "This is a desperate attempt by DOE to beat the clock-- but we must stop the clock!"

CM James Calls On SUNY Charter Schools Institute to Immediately Investigate Student Suspensions at Success Academy Schools

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
MARCH 12, 2013

Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis (212) 788-7081

Council Member Letitia James Calls On SUNY Charter Schools Institute to Immediately Investigate Student Suspensions at Success Academy Schools
6-Year-Old Charter School Student with IEP Received 20 Suspensions In Single School Year

(New York, NY)— On Thursday, March 14, 2013, Council Member Letitia James will be joining education advocates to request an immediate investigation on the suspension policy for children with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) at the Charter School Success Academy in Cobble Hill Brooklyn, after corresponding with a constituent whose 6-year-old son with an IEP was suspended over twenty times during the school year.

Research shows that chronic absentees in kindergarten have the lowest academic performance in first grade. Because each suspension lasted 2-3 days, the child missed over 50 school days. This child’s IEP required that he have a para-professional (“para”) to shadow him during the school day, however his parent states that the para was removed by the school. Other services he was entitled to were given by teachers who were not certified in special education.

“This is an outrageous mistreatment of this child and his family,” said Council Member James. “Children with special needs are entitled to services whether they attend traditional public schools or charter schools. To punish a child and keep him from the classroom because the resources are not available to help him demonstrates a shocking degree of indifference to his education.”

WHAT: Press Conference calling on SUNY Charter Schools Institute, as well as the Success Academy Board of Trustees and DOE to Investigate Student Suspensions at Success Academy

WHO: Council Member Letitia James, and Education Advocates

WHEN: Thursday, March 14, 2013 1:00 PM

WHERE: Steps of City Hall

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CM James Joins Parents, School Advocates In Rally Against DOE Co-location of Success-Academy Charter School Brooklyn 5

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

October 10, 2012

CONTACT: Barbara Sherman (718) 260-9191 /bsherman@council.nyc.gov

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES, COMMUNITY EDUCATION COUNCIL 13, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND ADVOCATES RALLY AGAINST DOE’S PROPOSAL TO CO-LOCATE SUCCESS ACADEMY CHARTER SCHOOL BROOKLYN 5 AT SUSAN MCKINNEY SCHOOL K265 

(Brooklyn, NY)-- Please join Council Member Letitia James Thursday, October 11th at 4:00pm at a press conference opposing Eva Moskowitz’s Success-Academy Charter School Brooklyn 5 that will serve K through fifth grade to be co-located with Susan McKinney K265 and P369@265, a secondary school, sixth through twelfth grades in school District 13. The District 13 School Field Office (KN13) and a community based organization Partnership with Children is also located in K265. 

The co -location of Success Academy School Brooklyn 5 will compromise and or eliminate the mandated services for District 75 students and students with an Individualized Education Plan (“IEP”). In addition, the co-location will diminish the educational mandate of Susan McKinney Secondary School of the Arts ability to offer classes in drama, chorus, dance, and visual arts to students in grades 6 to 12. 

DOE’s Educational Impact Study purports that the school will operate at 102%. Operating at above capacity will endanger students, compromise education, and eliminate state mandated resource rooms for children who attend P369@k265 and students with IEP’s. 

DOE’s expansion of charter schools has led to greater inequities, and a higher concentration of need in our district public schools at the same time they have taken up increased amounts of critical space from the district schools that educate the neediest students, including in many cases libraries, classrooms, and intervention spaces leading to unacceptable conditions. 

WHO: NYC Council Member Letitia James 

WHAT: The New York Department of Education Office of Portfolio proposal to co-locate Success Academy Charter School Brooklyn 5 at Susan McKinney K265 and P369@265 

WHEN: Thursday October 11, 2012 4:00PM EST 

WHERE: 101 PARK AVENUE BROOKLYN NY 11205

CM James Statement On Proposal to Co-locate Community Roots Charter in PS 287

The NYT-Local has reported that the proposal to co-locate with PS 287 was approved.
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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 17, 2012

Contact Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191

COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES’ STATEMENT REGARDING DOE PROPOSAL TO CO-LOCATE COMMUNITY ROOTS CHARTER SCHOOL IN P.S. 287 BUILDING

(Brooklyn, NY)- “In December 2010, Community Roots Charter School (CRCS) was approved for a grade expansion, which will now serve middle school grade levels (grades 6-8). Shortly after, the New York City Department of Education (DOE) proposed to expand CRCS in its existing location in 13K067, which houses a community school, P.S. 67-Charles A. Dorsey and P.S. 369, a District 75 school. After much community push back, the DOE concluded that 13K067 does not offer the capacity to accommodate the expansion of CRCS. In December 2011, the DOE proposed to co-locate Community Roots’ middle school grades in the 13K287 building beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.

13K287 presently houses P.S. 287-Bailey K. Ashford, an existing community school serving kindergarten through fifth grade, and Khalil Gibran International Academy, an existing DOE school serving students in seventh and eighth grade. Khalil Gibran will be re-sited to Community School District 15 next Fall. With the potential available space due to the exodus of Khalil Gibran and the additional underutilized space in P.S. 287, the DOE has found sufficient space within the building to house Community Roots without impeding on the success and growth of P.S. 287 and CRCS. At capacity in 2014 with P.S. 287 and Community Roots Middle School co-located, the building utilization rate will be between 54-71%.

Much like the previous proposal, this plan is causing community unrest and conflict. It is no surprise to anyone that I do not waiver when I’m faced with a bureaucratic challenge or an issue that is undoubtedly wrong, However, I believe that there is sufficient room in the P.S. 287 facility for both schools to fit comfortably and continue to grow for the betterment of District 13 youth.

I stand with all the schools in my Council District and the families who fight for increased educational options for their children. I stand on the side of fairness and transparency. For that I urge parental and community involvement in the DOE significant changes in school utilization process. We need to stand together to grow high-achieving schools in our district like CRCS and P.S. 287. We are the answer to ensure the growth and sustainment of a progressive working environment for our children.”

Council Member Letitia James
35th CD, Brooklyn

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CM James Opposes DOE Revised Proposal to Co-Locate BEC in PS9

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
April 8, 2011

Contact Simone Hawkins at (212) 788-7081

Council Member Letitia James Opposes the NYC Department of Education’s Revised Proposal to Co-locate BEC in P.S. 9

“While New York City settles to the idea of a new schools chancellor, the Department of Education (DOE) continues on its wrath of mass co-locations. In December of 2010, the DOE released the Educational Impact Statement (EIS) proposing the phase-out of M.S. 571 - The Bergen Upper School and a re-siting and co-location of Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School (BEC) in the 13K009 building in Prospect Heights. However, on March 31, 2011 New York Education Commissioner David Steiner annulled the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) February vote to place Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School inside the PS 9 building.

The Commissioner’s decision sides with seven parents who filed a lawsuit charging many oversights in the DOE’s proposal, including that it had not provided required details about the effect of the co-location on the use of common spaces. Although the Commissioner approved the parents’ petition, the decision still allows for the DOE to re-propose the co-location of BEC in the P.S. 9 building as long as they release a new plan that includes the missing information.

Without any delay, the DOE has released a revised EIS and revised BUP requesting for the co-location of BEC in the 13K009 building. This revised notice, which will be subject to a new vote by the PEP, provides information about a new unscheduled joint public hearing. The PEP is scheduled to vote on this Proposal May 18th, which will still allow for the re-siting/co-location this Fall.

P.S. 9 has achieved magnificent things and should be given an opportunity to expand. It is evident that the DOE will continue to advance their agenda and resultantly impede the possible growth and expansion of P.S. 9. As mentioned previously, I believe all co-locations and school closures should be suspended until a complete assessment of this impact on the school system has been made considering the absence of a fully appointed Chancellor. I will continue to stand with the families of P.S. 9 in opposition to this proposal.”

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ATTENTION: No Co-Location BK East Collegiate Charter School In PH Building

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
April 1, 2011

Contact Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191, (646) 201-8183

CONGRATULATIONS TO PS 9 STUDENTS, PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY ON THEIR VICTORY

NY State Education Commissioner David Steiner overturned the decision by the DOE to co-locate Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School in the Prospect Heights Building

This week, Commissioner of Education David Steiner annulled the Feb. 3 vote by the Panel for Educational Policy, which oversees New York City public schools, to co-locate a charter school in PS 9’s building at 80 Underhill Avenue. His response stated that the City’s plan for sharing the space was unfair.

“I am grateful for this decision, and I know that if the DOE had listened to parents, the community and elected officials regarding the building sharing of PS 9, the Bloomberg Administration would not have had to suffer this defeat. Proposed actions such as this one explain why the Mayor’s poll numbers remain low, despite his efforts to promote himself. This is the second time within a year the State Education Commissioner vetoed co-locating a City charter school,” said Council Member James.

Seven parents filed an appeal of the decision on March 7. The appeal was made under a new law that took effect last year authorizing an expedited process for co-location appeals in particular. The law set out strict rules for co-locations, including one that requires thorough details about their impact that Steiner concluded the City violated at PS 9.

Commissioner Steiner wrote: “I am unable to conclude that DOE’s failure to comply with the statute’s requirements in this respect was harmless error.”

“The fact that State continues to scrutinize the City’s adherence to the charter school law passed last year instills faith in government - the community’s voices were heard, and our children’s education does matter. Closing schools is bad public policy and excluding opinions of parents and teachers is also bad decision making. I am ecstatic, as are advocates of PS 9 that we prevailed,” said Council Member James.

Besides rescinding the decision, the commissioner also prohibited the DOE from moving forward with any phase of the co-location of Brooklyn East into 80 Underhill until it offers a more reasonable division of building resources.

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ATTENTION: CM James Joins Advocates and Officials To Rally Against Proposed DOE Phase-Out of MS 571; Co-Locations of Charter Schools

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 27, 2011


Contact: Simone Hawkins at (212) 788-7081, and Amyre Loomis (718) 260-9191

NYC COUNCIL MEMBER LETITIA JAMES, ALONG WITH PARENTS, STUDENTS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS, AND ADVOCATES RALLY AGAINST DOE PROPOSED PHASE-OUT OF M.S. 571, AND CO-LOCATIONS OF CHARTER SCHOOLS AT P.S. 9/M.S. 571 & P.S. 316/M.S.353 -- PROTEST THIS SATURDAY, JANUARY 29TH, AT 1:00 PM IN THE BASEMENT OF DURYEA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - 362 STERLING PLACE

Last Month, the DOE released the Educational Impact Statement proposing the phase-out of M.S. 571 - The Bergen Upper School and a re-siting and co-location of Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School in the 13K009 building. The DOE claims M.S. 571 “lacks the capacity to turn around” and there’s a need of high-quality options in school district 13. Much like P.S. 316 and M.S. 353, the DOE is not allowing the possible expansion and growth of P.S. 9.

The community knows each of these schools was never given the chance to succeed and grow. We demand that chance!

WHAT: Rally against proposed DOE phase-out of M.S. 571 and co-locations of charter schools
WHEN: Saturday, January 29, at 1:00 PM
WHERE: Duryea Presbyterian Church - 362 Sterling Place (corner of Underhill Avenue), Prospect Heights, Brooklyn - (718)783-2451

Also, the proposals for significant changes in school utilization will be considered at the February 3, 2011 Panel for Educational Policy meeting - at Brooklyn Technical High School located at 29 Fort Greene Place, Brooklyn, NY, 11217. We ask that all stakeholders attend this hearing and the press conference held prior to the hearing.

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ATTENTION: Millennium Brooklyn High School Open House; 2/1-3; Park Slope

Parents of guardians of current 8th grade middle school students are invited to learn more about the new Millennium Brooklyn High School that will be co-located at the John Jay Educational Campus beginning September 2011.

==========================
Millennium Brooklyn High School
Open House- current eighth grade students & families are invited.

Dates: Tuesday, February 1, 2011 from 6PM- 7PM
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 from 6PM- 7PM
Thursday, February 3, 2011 from 6PM- 7PM

Location: First Floor Auditorium
345 Dean Street
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Come meet with Founding Principal Lisa Gioe, and members of the Millennium Brooklyn planning team for a presentation and question and answer session.

ATTENTION: Public School Info Session; 1/26; CH

Parents and Guardians are Invited to Attend a Public School Information Session!

This will be a great way to find out about your school options, and to get your questions answered.

Who:
• Joyce Szuflita from insideschools.org
• P.S. 11
• P.S. 9
• P.S. 46
• P.S. 20
• Arts & Letters
• Leadership Prep
• Community Partnership Charter School
• Ethical Community Charter School

When:
Wed, January 26th at 6:30 p.m.

Where:
The Co-Op School
87 Irving Place

Brooklyn NY 11238

CM James Comments On Replacement/ Co-Location of Traditional Public Schools With Charter Schools

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
January 24, 2011

Contact Simone Hawkins at (212) 788-7081

Statement from Council Member Letitia James regarding the Perpetual Replacement and Co-location of Traditional Public Schools with Charter Schools

“The recently leaked document from the Department of Education is causing reasonable uproar from parents and schools throughout New York City. The DOE’s outline to replace twenty-six schools this year - with mainly charter schools - proves that no neighborhood is safe from the unilateral decision making of Mayor Bloomberg and now, Chancellor Cathie Black.

The 26 schools recommended for closure due to poor performance has received little to no support from the DOE for restructuring or developmental purposes. P.S. 9 – Teunis G. Bergen/M.S. 571 and P.S. 316 – Elijah Stroud/M.S. 353 – Elijah Stroud Middle School – all in my district – are being threatened with a co-location of charter schools, in addition, to a proposed phase-out of M.S. 571. Also, P.S. 11 – Purvis J. Behan seems to be targeted by the DOE as a possible place for co-location due to their outdated underutilized space report. Although these decisions are subject to public hearings and a vote by the Panel for Educational Policy, these students and their families are losing confidence in the NYC public education system.

I propose that the DOE allow restructuring of the M.S. 571 administration as it is necessary to maintain middle school options in school district 13. P.S. 316 has grown tremendously over these years under the great leadership of Principal Elif Gure-Perez and M.S. 353 is now a part of the Middle School Choice process of which will attract at least 100 additional students for the 2011-2012 school year. Both schools maintain levels of proficiency and received an “A” grade on their DOE 2009-2010 progress reports. Allow these schools to blossom in a time when they are both exceeding expectations and gaining community support.

The charter revision and expansion for Community Roots Charter School in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, for example, is one well deserved. However, the placement of the school in a separate building with another traditional school will only invite further public scrutiny. It is undoubtedly irresponsible for the DOE to take it upon themselves to create such documents without the input of the adjoining communities.

Once a phase-out is fully implemented, the DOE will cease to allocate funds to the closing school and repurpose all remaining funds to the incoming school. The Fair Student Funding (FSF) covers basic instructional expenses and may be used to hire staff, purchase supplies and materials, or implement instructional programs. As a result of the phase-out, the total number of students enrolled at the closing school will naturally decline each year resulting in fewer teachers and supplies to meet the needs of the remaining student population. The DOE needs to understand that many of these existing schools are community staples. It is without argument that many need support to maintain desirable proficiency and retention rates. Nevertheless, replacing them and reallocating resources to new charter schools is NOT the solution.”

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CM James Shares Predictions for 2011!

Council Member James on steps of City Hall at CityTime Press Conference.

"Now that 2011 has ushered in, the following are a few predictions for the New Year--

Number one: the amount of theft related to the CityTime scandal will exceed $100 million stolen from New York City taxpayers, and will be the largest fraud on record in the City’s history (I first sounded the alarm two years ago as Contracts Committee Chair).

Number two: within the 35th Council District we are members of a united community, and therefore will provide even safer, more nurturing and stimulating environments for children, both at home and within schools. We will help the least among us, and when we see something, we will always say something in an effort to protect neighbors and ourselves.

Number three: dancing will remain in my life, for exercise purposes and as an artistic outlet. I truly enjoyed dancing to raise funds for arts education in December - http://teamtish.blogspot.com/2010/12/cm-james-dances-at-stars-of-ny-dance.html."

Council Member Letitia James

35th District, Brooklyn



Achievement First Charter School Parents Demand Disciplinary Reform

Press Release
Contact: Amelia Adams - (646) 250-5797
aadams@nycommunities.org

Achievement First Charter School Parents Demand Disciplinary Reform

Parents Cite Several Incidents in Schools and Detrimental Discipline Policies

Thirty parents rallied and attended the Achievement First Board meeting to call for a change to the charter school network’s discipline policies.

Parents were angered at the disciplinary actions taken against their children in Achievement First schools. Many students in the schools have had detention almost every day of the year and been suspended for infractions such as dropping a pencil, not making eye contact and “slouching.”

“These rules have to change. My son was called a “low-level criminal” because he initialed his name in the wrong location on a form. He was suspended and they made him wear a different color shirt for the rest of the day,” said Jasmine Crawford parent of an Achievement First student.

Parents felt that the disciplinary policies have had a very detrimental effect on students’ emotional states, even to the point where students talk about suicide.

“My son has threatened to walk out in the street and be run over by a car, instead of going to school,” said one Achievement First parent who did not want to be named publicly for fear of retribution on her son.

Parents were also very disturbed that Chi Tschang, who has a history of emotionally and physically abusing children, was brought in as Superintendent of their schools. Mr. Tschang had been reported in California to have put his hands on students and using harsh punishments like sitting out in extreme cold/sun for hours. Parents at Achievement First called for the removal of Mr. Tschang and requested to work with administration to implement a fair and transparent code of conduct.

Several parents delivered a letter (attached) to the Crown Heights AF principal and requested a meeting in regards to disciplinary policies on October 27th, but have yet to hear back.

Council Member Letitia James added her support for the parents, “When a large group of parents gather to voice their dissatisfaction with their children’s school policies, I listen. The parents of Achievement First Schools are my constituents, and therefore my first priority. Apparently, students are also sharing experiences of harsh punishments with others, specifically under the direction of the Superintendent of their schools. Today, I am calling for an immediate meeting to be held with the Crown Heights Achievement First principal to discuss disciplinary policies and make necessary adjustments that are agreed upon by all parties.”

When: Monday, November 22nd at 5:30pm
Where: Achievement First Endeavor - 510 Waverly Ave. in Brooklyn
Who: Achievement First Parents, NYCC, elected officials and community members

A Message from Council Member James

Create new Schools and Investment during this Fiscal Crisis by Supporting Innovative Private-Public Partnership

Over the next several months, the City Council is going to negotiate a New York City budget that will require a huge number of difficult choices. The financial crisis gripping the nation has hit New York City’s municipal budget especially hard, so we are going to have to find innovative ways to address the growing needs of our residents.

In areas ranging from health care to public education, new and thoughtful approaches to providing City services are going to be required. The hope of the City Council is to help maintain the quality of life that all of our fellow New Yorkers need and deserve. Fortunately, at least in one small area there is a slight glimmer of hope to be found – the development of new public schools to address growing overcrowding in our classrooms.

Faced with little available capital funding and virtually no buildable sites in many neighborhoods, the City has started to embrace the creation of private-public partnerships that will build new public schools as part of private development projects. If done correctly, these types of partnerships can become win-win scenarios for communities and developers alike. In fact, a May 2008 report by Comptroller Thompson on the challenges of building new schools specifically recommended this approach, which he noted would accelerate school construction “without adding to the already strained DOE capital budget.”

One such proposed partnership, a new building in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, called Dock Street DUMBO holds the promise of hundreds of new middle school seats for public school children in Downtown Brooklyn and surrounding communities. This is exactly the type of thoughtful development we should be pursuing. Dock Street DUMBO proposes building a 300-seat public middle school in a privately funded, LEED-certified “green” residential building that will also create DUMBO’s first ever affordable housing.

The developer is also donating a significant portion of the cost of the school to the City – a financial contribution worth over $40 million to the City – and has already reached out to the surrounding community (including several public housing developments) regarding job opportunities and other economic development benefits. The Department of Education, which has been looking for a middle school site in the neighborhood for more than two years, agrees that this is the only feasible location, and is committed to moving forward on the Dock Street School as well.

Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Sadly, no. Despite having earned the overwhelming approval of the local Community Board (in a 30-7 vote), and the support of numerous elected officials, parents, clergy, civic leaders and even the school Principals’ union, Dock Street DUMBO is opposed by some local groups. They argue that the building would block views of and from the Brooklyn Bridge, and no level of objective evidence to the contrary (including a scale model, numerous renderings and thoughtful analysis by noted architects and design professionals) is going to convince them otherwise.

If we are to have any hope of tackling the crisis of school overcrowding in our City and move forward as a community, we are going to have to convince folks that it is time to give real consideration to innovative ideas and partnerships like Dock Street DUMBO. If we truly take the time to analyze proposals fairly and objectively, we can separate the good from the bad and work to make thoughtful, appropriate projects a reality for our neighborhoods.

And should anyone think these words are the thoughts of a blind “pro-developer” Council Member, let us not forget that for the past several years I have been a leader in the fight against the Atlantic Yards development. I subjected the Atlantic Yards proposal to this very type of objective analysis (and concluded it was absolutely not an appropriate project).

Tough times call not only for tough choices, but for smart choices. Dock Street DUMBO, with its donated middle school and affordable housing commitment, is exactly the kind of smart, innovative public-private partnership needed for the future of our communities.

In Your Community

Council Member James was present at the City Council Public Housing hearing on October 29, 2008 concerning maintenance and inspection of NYCHA developments. NYCHA representatives stated that elevator maintenance was a top priority following the elevator-related deaths of two young children. NYCHA Chairman Tito Hernandez spoke about a plan to spend $107 million to replace around 550 elevators at 35 developments in the next 5 years, as well as to spend an additional $5 million to hire additional elevator maintenance workers and others to focus on the 50 complexes with the most elevator failures.*

NYCHA maintains about 5% of the City’s elevators, and is facing major budget cuts (like all City agencies and bodies) of $117 million (fiscal year 2009) to $207 millions (fiscal year 2012). The agency has spent $200 million to replace over 2,000 elevators in the past decade.

*Information obtained from The New York Times article “Council Members Skeptical of Elevator Repair Plan for Public Housing,” by Manny Fernandez. Published October 30, 2008.
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On behalf of Council Member Letitia James, we’d like to congratulate the Democrats for Education Reform for hosting “Brooklyn’s Charter School Night” on October 30, 2008, and thank them for their contributions to public charter schools in Brooklyn.

Also, the Metropolitan Jewish Health System Foundation- Elderplan hosted their annual “Gala at the Gotham,” and acknowledged Ms. C. Williams, a 35th District resident, for her service to Elderplan members and retired seniors. Council Member Letitia James awarded Ms. Williams with a New York City Council Certificate in honor of her service.

Democrats for Education Reform: http://www.dfer.org/