No sooner did school let out on June 27 than the uncertainty began for students and staff at the 24 schools slated for "turnaround." An arbitrator ruled on June 29 that the city could not force the removal of teachers from those schools -- even though teachers had already been told they had to re-apply for their jobs or find teaching positions elsewhere. On July 10, the mayor said that the schools should plan for the same teachers to return in the fall. 

Prior to the ruling, the turnaround plan seemed to be a fait accomplis. New principals were installed and even the new high school directory issued last week lists schools under new names. Long Island High School became Global Scholars Academies at Long Island City, for example. The DOE still hasn't decided whether the new names will stick or will revert to the original names.

And what about the students who attend the 24 schools? For some time now it has been a lose-lose situation for them, writes Gail Robinson.

Read her account in Huffington Post: NYC's School Closing Gambit Leaves Students Behind.