From the New York Daily News.
The SP High School situation is different because the building will not be full for the two years the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is scheduled to be there. However, what happens if two years go by and there is no where else to house the Prospect Charter School? The section referencing Sunset Park is close to the bottom of the article.
Showing posts with label Brooklyn Prospect Charter School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brooklyn Prospect Charter School. Show all posts
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Friday, May 8, 2009
Facilities Hearing About Brooklyn Prospect Charter School's Two Year Stay in Sunset Park High School
What's the issue with allowing the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School to hang out in the new Sunset Park High School building for a few years? Doesn't it make sense for a mostly empty building to be used in a closer version of its normal capacity instead of standing lonely? In as succinct an explanation as I'm able, here's what I think about the concerns I've heard floated around.
First, why would the building be mostly empty? The usual process of beginning a totally new school is to start with one (sometimes two) grades and build it up from there. It's the reverse process for phasing out a school. So the first year, the SPHS will have 9th Graders, the second year it will have 9th and 10th, and so on. That means that the new building on 4th Avenue will be at least half empty for the first two years. Seems wasteful in a time of overcrowding and energy consciousness.
Second, sounds like giving another school the space for a couple of years makes sense. What's the issue? In a perfect world of unbroken agreements and well-planned facilities and programs, there wouldn't be an issue. This is not a perfect world. It's probably not even the best of all possible worlds. And, in a community that had to fight for 30 years to get its own high school, suspicions are high when a brand new charter school gets plopped into the building that represents the hopes and hard work of the neighborhood. Sure, you (meaning the Department of Education and the City) say it's only for two years...but times are uncertain right now. What happens if 18 months go by and it doesn't look like there's another viable space? How would that affect the high school and its growth? Once the charter school is in the space, it will be a lot harder to remove it when the time comes. Other communities have these concerns as well.
Any other issues? Off the top of my head (and unsubstantiated by official information), there is also the issue of a facility being used by two entirely separate entities. The ages of the students differ, the philosophies governing the schools differ, and the enthusiasm for the location of the new Sunset Park High School is probably much different from the feelings the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School has for where it will spend (at least) two years.
Anyway, the hearing during which many of these concerns will be aired is coming up. Parents and concerned community members in District 15 will have a chance to speak up with their questions, worries, and support.
First, why would the building be mostly empty? The usual process of beginning a totally new school is to start with one (sometimes two) grades and build it up from there. It's the reverse process for phasing out a school. So the first year, the SPHS will have 9th Graders, the second year it will have 9th and 10th, and so on. That means that the new building on 4th Avenue will be at least half empty for the first two years. Seems wasteful in a time of overcrowding and energy consciousness.
Second, sounds like giving another school the space for a couple of years makes sense. What's the issue? In a perfect world of unbroken agreements and well-planned facilities and programs, there wouldn't be an issue. This is not a perfect world. It's probably not even the best of all possible worlds. And, in a community that had to fight for 30 years to get its own high school, suspicions are high when a brand new charter school gets plopped into the building that represents the hopes and hard work of the neighborhood. Sure, you (meaning the Department of Education and the City) say it's only for two years...but times are uncertain right now. What happens if 18 months go by and it doesn't look like there's another viable space? How would that affect the high school and its growth? Once the charter school is in the space, it will be a lot harder to remove it when the time comes. Other communities have these concerns as well.
Any other issues? Off the top of my head (and unsubstantiated by official information), there is also the issue of a facility being used by two entirely separate entities. The ages of the students differ, the philosophies governing the schools differ, and the enthusiasm for the location of the new Sunset Park High School is probably much different from the feelings the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School has for where it will spend (at least) two years.
Anyway, the hearing during which many of these concerns will be aired is coming up. Parents and concerned community members in District 15 will have a chance to speak up with their questions, worries, and support.
Notice of Facilities Hearing
Date: Tuesday May 12, 2009
Time: Speaker Registration: 6:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Presentation & Comments: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Location: I.S. 136 Charles O. Dewey 4004 4th Avenue
Event : Public Hearing - Proposed facilities hearing regarding Brooklyn Prospect Charter School
Details: The New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) has proposed that beginning in September 2009 Brooklyn Prospect Charter School , a new charter school, be temporarily incubated in the Sunset Park High School building for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. Brooklyn Prospect Charter School will start with grade 6 in September 2009 and add a grade each year to eventually seeks to serve grades 6-12 by 2015, only grades 6 & 7 are proposed to be located in the Sunset Park High School, grade 6 in September 2009 & grades 6 & 7 in September 2010. At the end of the 2010-11 school year Brooklyn Prospect would move out of the Sunset Park High School building.
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is authorized by the State University of New York (SUNY). SUNY & the NYCDOE will facilitate the hearing and solicit public comment.
About Brooklyn Prospect Charter School :
The mission of Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is to provide a rigorous academic environment in which all students achieve excellence. Brooklyn Prospect Charter School will ensure that its students gain the critical skills and knowledge to enter and excel in college and the competitive world beyond Speaker comment is welcomed, speakers must register. Written comments will also be collected on the day of the hearing and can be submitted via email to: charterschools@schools.nyc.gov.
Pursuant to Education Law 2857(1), the authorizer of a charter school shall hold a public hearing to solicit comment from the community in connection with any proposal for the siting of a charter school in a public school building.
Office of Charter Schools +1 212 374 5419 CharterSchools@schools.nyc.gov
Friday, April 3, 2009
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School Will Be in Sunset Park High School Building
Daniel Kikuji Rubenstein, the Executive Director of the Brooklyn Prospect Charter School, informed those on the mailing list that the NYC DOE has proposed placing BPCS within the new building on 4th and 35th. Is it a done deal? After a quick phone call, I can tell you that it is definite (other than some administrative hoops).
I wonder if the location will change some people's minds about applying. My understanding was that the hope for the original location was either in downtown Brooklyn (proximity to BAM and other educational/arts organizations) or somewhere decidedly more Park Slope. I, for one, hope the organizers aren't too disappointed. There's plenty of culture to soak up in Sunset Park, and there is definitely a need for the 88 sixth grade seats if others decide they don't want to make the trip.
Reminder for Sunset Park (and all District 15) parents of current 5th graders, the deadline for applications is SUNDAY. See below for more information.
from the email:
We are pleased to inform you that the NYC Department of Education has proposed placing Brooklyn Prospect Charter School within the newly constructed Sunset Park High School building. We are thrilled to potentially locate the school within the Sunset Park neighborhood and to have the opportunity to allow Brooklyn Prospect to begin serving 6th grade students within this new facility.
The Sunset Park High School Facility is a newly constructed building located at 35th Street and 4th Avenue in Sunset Park , Brooklyn . Sunset Park High School will have approximately 400 students in its first year in a building with a capacity of 1600. Brooklyn Prospect Charter School will have fewer than 100 sixth grade students in its first year.
We are grateful to Principal Corinne Vinal, Council Member Sara Gonzalez, the Center for Family Life Co-director, Julie Stein-Brockway, Community Board 7 and the Sunset Park High School Task Force who have worked tremendously hard in the creation of Sunset Park High School. We look forward to working closely with them to ensure a seamless collaboration and strong foundation for both schools.
Please keep in mind the following important information:
- April 5th 2009 is the last day to sign up for Brooklyn Prospect Charter School ’s lottery . Please go to our website http://www.brooklynprospect.org/Students to register. Families without internet access and/or Spanish speaking families may leave a message at (718)-289-3174. Note this is an extension of the deadline.
- Entering Brooklyn Prospect’s lottery does not affect the NYC Department of Education’s middle school admissions. Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is an additional free public school option; but the student/family must enroll in the lottery by April 5th to have Brooklyn Prospect as an option.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School Info Night in Sunset Park
If you know of families that have a current 5th grade student, pass this information along. Sunset Park could definitely use another option for its students, and many families in the area have probably not heard about this school's upcoming opening. You need a ticket to attend this FREE event. As of today there were 107 tickets available. Those who do not have ready access to the internet can call (718)289-3174. Also, 5th grade families can register and apply with the assistance of their school's guidance counselor.
The Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is hosting its...
Family Information Night
Wednesday February 25th
at Community Board 7 in Sunset Park
Due to limited space, please only plan on attending this event if a member of your family is a current 5th grade student in district 15.
From the email:
Dear Friends of Brooklyn Prospect Charter School,
Our sixth family information night will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Community Board 7 in Sunset Park For details and to register for this free event click here or go to http://brooklynprospect3.eventbrite.com/. This will be our next to last admissions event before the lottery on April 7th and a great opportunity to find out more about the school.
Please look for our next newsletter in February.
Warm regards,
Dan
Daniel Kikuji Rubenstein
Executive Director/Co-founder
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School
The Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is hosting its...
Family Information Night
Wednesday February 25th
at Community Board 7 in Sunset Park
Due to limited space, please only plan on attending this event if a member of your family is a current 5th grade student in district 15.
From the email:
Dear Friends of Brooklyn Prospect Charter School,
Our sixth family information night will take place on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Community Board 7 in Sunset Park For details and to register for this free event click here or go to http://brooklynprospect3.eventbrite.com/. This will be our next to last admissions event before the lottery on April 7th and a great opportunity to find out more about the school.
Please look for our next newsletter in February.
Warm regards,
Dan
Daniel Kikuji Rubenstein
Executive Director/Co-founder
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School
Brooklyn Prospect Charter School
Serving grades six through twelve, Brooklyn Prospect will pair students with excellent teachers in a college preparatory environment using the International Baccalaureate program. We will prepare students for success as global citizens and help students develop the love of learning that provides the foundation for personal and professional success.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
New Charter School Approved for CSD 15
A new charter school is opening in September 2009, and Sunset Park kids are eligible (and encouraged) to apply. The Brooklyn Prospect Charter School is headed by educators (although it's also heavy on the corporate and technology experts), and the academic planning team is chock full of Ivy League and accomplished educators. The members aren't grounded in mainstream urban education, but a lack of entrenched cynicism (who me?) is probably healthier than too much reality. Besides, they're starting out with just 88 sixth-graders, and the class size is promised to be just 22. With numbers like that, most classroom management and discipline will take care of itself. With numbers like that, keeping track of absences and blips in work will be manageable. With numbers like that, English Language Learners and children who have deficiencies in reading/math skills will benefit tremendously. With numbers like that, I think Sunset Park should get involved and flood the lottery! As it says on their website: "Through the state lottery system, Brooklyn Prospect hopes to serve a student population that mirrors the racial and socio-economic demographics of the surrounding community."
Those who have very young children may not realize that Sunset Park is in the same Community School District as Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Red Hook. Seems odd, I know. It has its advantages if you are informed and active. It's not as though the southern part of CSD 15 often gets notices about school events or recruitment from its northern neighbors. And for many parents in the area, the language barrier serves as enough reason to stick to the neighborhood where there is a concentration of parents who have similar translation/service needs.
However, the main middle school in our area, Charles O. Dewey (I.S. 136), does not have promising test results in either English Language Arts or Math. Despite recent improvement, both subjects are still pretty dismal. The same building, at 40th Street and 4th Avenue, houses Sunset Park Prep (M.S. 821). Approximately the same number of students (in the middle 400 range) attend each middle school, but the test scores are radically different. So Sunset Park does have a close-by choice of middle schools. However, the building holds about 900 tweens and teens (yes, students can be up to 15 years old in middle school).
That said, the opportunity to attend a small middle school (really, the most frightening educational choice for parents in NYC) with high standards is something to be happy about. Hopefully there will be plenty of outreach to all the corners of CSD 15. So far, I can vouch for the press release being sent to the Sunset Park Parents group, but then many of that group are transfers from other Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Park Slope. I'm sure Ms. Marzulli also sent it out to the principals of the Sunset Park elementary schools.
Those who have very young children may not realize that Sunset Park is in the same Community School District as Park Slope, Cobble Hill, and Red Hook. Seems odd, I know. It has its advantages if you are informed and active. It's not as though the southern part of CSD 15 often gets notices about school events or recruitment from its northern neighbors. And for many parents in the area, the language barrier serves as enough reason to stick to the neighborhood where there is a concentration of parents who have similar translation/service needs.
However, the main middle school in our area, Charles O. Dewey (I.S. 136), does not have promising test results in either English Language Arts or Math. Despite recent improvement, both subjects are still pretty dismal. The same building, at 40th Street and 4th Avenue, houses Sunset Park Prep (M.S. 821). Approximately the same number of students (in the middle 400 range) attend each middle school, but the test scores are radically different. So Sunset Park does have a close-by choice of middle schools. However, the building holds about 900 tweens and teens (yes, students can be up to 15 years old in middle school).
That said, the opportunity to attend a small middle school (really, the most frightening educational choice for parents in NYC) with high standards is something to be happy about. Hopefully there will be plenty of outreach to all the corners of CSD 15. So far, I can vouch for the press release being sent to the Sunset Park Parents group, but then many of that group are transfers from other Brooklyn neighborhoods, including Park Slope. I'm sure Ms. Marzulli also sent it out to the principals of the Sunset Park elementary schools.
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