FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com maRCH 6, 2014 • The Queens Courier 25 DOE withdraws co-location plans BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 From the 49 co-location proposals released last year for schools all around the city, the Department of Education (DOE) has announced it will be withdrawing nine and revising one. Two plans that have now been withdrawn included opening a K-4 Success Academy charter school in August Martin High School in Jamaica and bringing a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school to Long Island City High School. The rest of the plans involve schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan. “The previous administration handed over these proposals – and we have had to review all of them under inflexible deadlines. While the circumstances for each proposal are unique, we identified clear criteria and we followed it,” Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña said. “We were deliberate in our decisions and, under the circumstance we inherited, believe is the best approach.” In reviewing the proposals, the DOE identified four “core values” that will be used to evaluate co-locations: new elementary schools should not be opened on high school campuses; the new schools must have the resources needed to provide services the students deserve; depending on capital work to make space for the co-location; and seats must not be reduced in District 75, serving special needs students. The agency also took into consideration deadlines and the impact some of the proposals would have on thousands of families. “If there is one thing school communities should know, it’s this: we’re going to do things differently,” Fariña said. “Today, we are turning the page on the approach of the past. We are going to listen and be responsive like never before, and that will be reflected in everything we do.” The Career and Technical Education high school proposed for LIC High School is now planned to be moved to Murry Bergtraum High School in Manhattan. “This is a win for all of us in the community, but most of all for the students who only want the resources they deserve to receive a proper education,” State Senator Michael Gianaris said about LIC High School. The DOE plans to host a meeting for each school community of the proposals that will be implemented. The meeting will help discuss next steps and also allow the DOE to engage with parents and school officials. Councilmember Mark Weprin said that he is disappointed to learn that the DOE still plans on pursuing its plan to co-locate another school at Martin Van Buren High School in Queens Village. However, he said he has heard that the DOE will work with the local community to make sure the programs at the school meet the community’s needs. “We want to make Martin Van Buren a destination high school once again,” Weprin said. THE COURIER/ File Photo Co-locating another school into Long Island City High School is one of the nine proposals from last year withdrawn by the Department of Education last week. PUSH TO EXPAND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS BY CRISTABELLE TUMOLA ctumola@queenscourier.com/@CristabelleT Mayor Bill de Blasio continued to push Albany to authorize a tax increase for his universal pre-kindergarten plan as he detailed his expansion of middle school after-school programs. That expansion, like de Blasio’s pre-kindergarten proposal, will require an increase on local income tax for the city’s highest earners. The mayor released an interagency report on Monday, March 3, on his plans to make after-school programs available to every public middle school student who needs them. The implementation would place programs in all schools with middle school students that do not currently have afterschool services, as well as in non-public school sites, such as community centers and libraries, according to the report. The $190 million proposal will provide an additional 62,791 middle school students with the opportunity to attend free after-school programs, starting in September 2014. Currently, the Department of Education and Department of Youth and Community Development provide afterschool programs that serve approximately 56,369 students in 239 schools each year. The expansion will increase the number of schools with programs to 512. Funding would also go toward boosting existing programs by increasing their hours of operation. De Blasio said the city has “the capacity to ramp up immediately.” But what is still needed, he said, is the funding, which would require approval from Albany for the tax increase. He joined parents, children, advocates and educators at the state capital on Tuesday, March 4, to rally for state lawmakers to support the hike. “I’m here on behalf of thousands of New York City parents who need pre-K and after-school programs to give their children a shot at success,” said Eric Acheampong, a father of two from St. Albans. “We can’t wait – we need our leaders in Albany to pass New York City’s plan now.” Josephine Lam, CPA 41-25 Kissena Blvd., Ste. 108 Flushing, NY 11355 Tel: 718.888.0988 Fax: 718.888.1011 · Business & personal tax returns preparation · Tax planning & consulting · Accounting, bookkeeping & payroll services · Business registration & dissolution Email: jlam@jlamcpa.com Serving the Needs of Individuals & Businesses FLEA TIME Food • Antiques • Ar t • Fashion • Collectibles • Fun OPENING APRIL 5TH & 6TH LIC FLEA & FOOD VENDORS WANTED APPLY ONLINE Corner of 5th Street & 46th Avenue, Long Island City OPENING MAY 4TH ASTORIA FLEA FL&& EA FOOD AT 36th Street Between 34th & 35th Avenues Astoria /lic ea LICFlea.com @lic ea /astoria ea @astoria ea
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