Harlem parents protest charter expansion
Yesterday in Harlem, parents, students, and staff of PS 123 protested the move of Harlem Success Academy II into their school building. They contend that the charter school will prevent their traditional neighborhood school from expanding in the future. (See NY1 footage of the rally here.)
According to Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez, tension erupted when moving men from Harlem Success arrived unannounced at PS 123 last week. They removed locks from classroom doors and began to empty the rooms of their furniture, books, and supplies. Although they were not expected by the leadership at PS 123, the men said they had orders to refurbish all the school’s third-floor rooms.
At the protest, City Council member Inez Dickens proposed changing the state law to cap the number of charter schools that a single operator can open in a given school district, says Gothamschools. The proposed law could ease turf wars in neighborhoods like Harlem, where charter schools account for 25 percent of public schools.
Just earlier this week, another Daily News article about the clash highlighted parents’ upset at different Harlem elementary school that shares space with Harlem Success Academy III. Although the charter school will expand to add another grade in September, the Department of Education told Mosaic Preparatory Academy to close its 6th grade — and scrap plans to add grades 7 and 8.
What do you think about Dickens’ proposal? Share your comments with us below.
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EVA gets what she wants from Tweed what a beautiful name Tweed the most corrupt politician in NYC history but talented and gifted programs can’t get more space in a crowded school what a disgrace
Comment by Anonymous — July 9, 2009 @ 9:35 am