14 THE QUEENS COURIER • APRIL 11, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com schools update s WALCOTT MEETS WITH PARENTS OVER G&T CUTS BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] True to his word, Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor Dennis Walcott met with parents, teachers and elected officials from across School District 30 to talk about the proposed cuts to the prestigious gifted and talented program at P.S. 122. “When families have a great experience in their school, we celebrate that and we appreciate the thoughtful way that parents at P.S. 122 approached this proposal,” said DOE spokesperson Devon Puglia. The meeting came after the concerned and outraged community members confronted Walcott at a Panel for Education Policy in Brooklyn on March 20, where he agreed to meet with them at a later date. For over a month, the members have been getting together to speak out against the DOE’s plans to extend P.S. 122’s general education classes from fifth to eighth grade at the expense of fewer classes for the gifted and talented middle school program, The Academy. “We are feeling optimistic that the DOE has heard that the District 30 community has not asked for and does not want a change to our balances and harmonious district structure,” said Deborah Alexander, a District 30 parent. “At the end of it, we feel like we could not have laid our case out any better. Logic should dictate what they do now.” According to Alexander, although Walcott did not say much at the meeting, he was apologetic in not contacting the community earlier, applauded the community’s advocacy and said he would get back to them within a week with some answers. “The Chancellor listens – he did that at his meeting with P.S. 122 parents, as he does with school communities across the city. We will incorporate the feedback we received, and will ultimately make a decision that best balances equity and excellence for students in this district,” said Puglia. Alexander hopes a decision will be made by April 17, when parents have to submit their ranking for gifted and talented schools for their children. “Fix the rule, don’t fix the school,” said Alexander. EXPANDING EDUCATION Come fall, Queens will have 15 new schools BY MAGGIE HAYES [email protected] Education is expanding throughout the borough with 15 new schools opening this fall, announced Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “With our new schools and school leaders, we’ll continue to provide our children with the opportunities they deserve,” said Bloomberg. Of the 15, two will be elementary schools, six middle schools, one school will house grades 6 through 12, three high schools, one transfer high school and two career technical and educational (CTE) high schools. One CTE school opening in Long Island City, CTE Energy Tech High School, is partnering with LaGuardia Community College, Con Edison and National Grid to give students unique internships and apprenticeships opportunities outside of the classroom, as well as a rigorous curriculum, all to prepare them for a future in the booming technology and energy industry. “We want to give students opportunities to participate in hands-on problem solving, getting to know the industry, getting out and seeing what the work feels like,” said Hope Barter, Energy Tech’s principal-to-be. The new CTE school will share a building with I.S. 204, and despite some opposition from parents on the co-location, Barter thinks the tech students’ undertaking can only benefit the neighborhood and the city. “Having another engineering program is an incredible opportunity for our teens and for the community,” she said. “As a product of the New York City public school system, I know firsthand the importance of a solid technical education,” said Ken Daly, president of National Grid New York. “Our partnership with the Energy Tech High School supports National Grid’s ‘Engineering Our Future’ initiative to build a qualified and skilled workforce.” Energy Tech and other city CTE schools, from grades 9 through 14, will give students not only high school diplomas, but also associates degrees. Mainstream schools are also spreading across the city, including the new Hunters Point Community Middle School, where students will be given the opportunity to participate in interest-based programs as well as work through an accelerated curriculum. “Everything is going to be very engaging,” said Sarah Goodman, the middle school’s principal. “I think we’re going to provide a combination of things that are really important – a strong set of foundational skills, and a curriculum in classrooms and advisories that are going to expose kids to ideas, ways of thinking and possible career paths.” Community leadership and organizational skills will also be one of the school’s focuses under Goodman’s leadership. “The range of schools that’s opening is going to give students such a range of programs to choose from,” said Barter. “We’re all doing something different, and it’s always exciting to give students choices and options.” Citywide, 78 new schools will serve nearly 10,000 students. Once the schools reach full capacity, that number will grow to 32,000 students. “The schools announced today will help us continue to ensure that all students – no matter their zip code – have access to high-quality education in New York City,” said Walcott. Parents peeved over co-location BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO [email protected] As one of the 15 new schools announced to open in Queens in September, the Department of Education (DOE) is planning to co-locate a new high school in the same building as a middle school -- and it has created mixed feelings within the community. Energy Tech High School is expected to open at I.S. 204, at 36-41 28th Street in Long Island City, and will be a new career and technical education (CTE) high school in partnership with Con Edison and National Grid. “Energy tech is a visionary school similar to that of the nationally-recognized P-Tech, which was lauded by the president in the State of the Union,” said DOE spokesperson Devon Puglia. The new high school will serve students from grades 9 through 14, who will be able to earn a high school diploma and Associates Degree through a partnership with CUNY’s LaGuardia Community College. Although members of School District 30 advocated for another CTE high school in Queens, mixing in the much older students with the middle school children is what has the community on the edge. “There are two sides,” said Jeffrey Guyton, co-president of District 30’s Community Education Council (CEC). “I’m really in favor of that kind of program, but I’m also queasy about it.” Energy Tech will have two years of college included, and according to Isaac Carmignani, CEC co-president, the college students will spend most of their time at LaGuardia, rather than at the high school. I.S. 204 already shares the school building with The Academy for Careers in Television and Film. The high school will be moving next year to a new building in Hunters Point, leaving the space vacant. The new CTE school will expose students to the energy industry, allowing them to intern with Con Edison and National Grid and be mentored by professionals. “Schools throughout the city share space, and when adults put children first, most co-locations are very successful,” said Puglia. Even with disagreements about the co-location, Guyton and Carmignani hope to support the students in both communities and monitor what happens once the school moves in. THE COURIER/ Photo by Angy Altamirano
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