Comments on: Village and Chelsea parents want more seats…now http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/02/26/village-and-chelsea-parents-want-more-seats-now/ Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:12:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Michael D. Markowitz, P.E. http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/02/26/village-and-chelsea-parents-want-more-seats-now/#comment-5416 Michael D. Markowitz, P.E. Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:39:12 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/02/26/village-and-chelsea-parents-want-more-seats-now/#comment-5416 Thank you sincerely for the coverage. Re the last big paragraph, two items: 1) Per CECD2 official information using DOE Fall 2007 data... PS3 and PS41 are already at 92% and 95% of capacity respectively, and that's based on "historic" class sizes. Both would already be well north of 100% if K-3 is brought down to "target" class size of 20. Converting "cluster" rooms into traditional classrooms would drive those schools even farther OVER capacity without CHANGING the capacity, and at some cost to the educational program. (As I read the DOE's "Instructional Footprint" document, such rooms are already included in the "Bluebook" capacity calculation.) 2) CECD2 asked the DOE to examine rezoning back in May 2008. (See link.) Note that CEC2 was already aware of cluster rooms having ALREADY been converted to other uses. DOE is since on record as reluctant to rezone, at least in GV / Chelsea, until AFTER the Foundling School comes on line (circa 2015). If DOE now wants to propose rezoning for community review (beyond the conceptual discussion CECD2 called for), an adopted new map still wouldn't kick in until Fall 2010 at the earliest (and only impact new students, not continuing students). As DOE stated at the forum, rezoning is not a solution for Fall 2009. Thank you sincerely for the coverage. Re the last big paragraph, two items:

1) Per CECD2 official information using DOE Fall 2007 data… PS3 and PS41 are already at 92% and 95% of capacity respectively, and that’s based on “historic” class sizes. Both would already be well north of 100% if K-3 is brought down to “target” class size of 20. Converting “cluster” rooms into traditional classrooms would drive those schools even farther OVER capacity without CHANGING the capacity, and at some cost to the educational program. (As I read the DOE’s “Instructional Footprint” document, such rooms are already included in the “Bluebook” capacity calculation.)

2) CECD2 asked the DOE to examine rezoning back in May 2008. (See link.) Note that CEC2 was already aware of cluster rooms having ALREADY been converted to other uses. DOE is since on record as reluctant to rezone, at least in GV / Chelsea, until AFTER the Foundling School comes on line (circa 2015). If DOE now wants to propose rezoning for community review (beyond the conceptual discussion CECD2 called for), an adopted new map still wouldn’t kick in until Fall 2010 at the earliest (and only impact new students, not continuing students). As DOE stated at the forum, rezoning is not a solution for Fall 2009.

]]> By: Taylor Conte http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/02/26/village-and-chelsea-parents-want-more-seats-now/#comment-5408 Taylor Conte Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:38:42 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/02/26/village-and-chelsea-parents-want-more-seats-now/#comment-5408 I did not realize that PS 11 was having overcrowded issues. I know that they have small class sizes in their TAG programs. When our school reached out to their PTA last winter to join in the rallies to end overcrowding, we received no response from them. I believe we received no response because they wanted to keep their class sizes small....very interesting I did not realize that PS 11 was having overcrowded issues. I know that they have small class sizes in their TAG programs. When our school reached out to their PTA last winter to join in the rallies to end overcrowding, we received no response from them. I believe we received no response because they wanted to keep their class sizes small….very interesting

]]> By: Shino Tanikawa http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/02/26/village-and-chelsea-parents-want-more-seats-now/#comment-5401 Shino Tanikawa Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:43:18 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/02/26/village-and-chelsea-parents-want-more-seats-now/#comment-5401 Many parents have been raising concerns regarding overcrowding in District 2 for quite some time. It was the parents who pushed DoE to bid on 75 Morton. DoE did not bid on the building when it should have. It was the parents in partnership with the CEC and CB2 that organized a meeting in January 2007 presenting the mounting problem of overcrowding - over a year ago. We have been asking the DoE to find a new home for GVMS for a long time. This is all too little too late. If DoE had listened to the very people who are living "where the rubber meets the road," we would not be in this mess. Many parents have been raising concerns regarding overcrowding in District 2 for quite some time. It was the parents who pushed DoE to bid on 75 Morton. DoE did not bid on the building when it should have. It was the parents in partnership with the CEC and CB2 that organized a meeting in January 2007 presenting the mounting problem of overcrowding - over a year ago. We have been asking the DoE to find a new home for GVMS for a long time.

This is all too little too late. If DoE had listened to the very people who are living “where the rubber meets the road,” we would not be in this mess.

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