District 27 Supports Cuts To Charter School Co-location – The Wave – The Wave, Rockaway’s Newspaper Since 1893

A resolution supporting the opposition to co-locate Success Academy students at two southeast Queens public schools was passed unanimously last week by District 27s Community Education Council.

The CECs motion of support came on the heels of the citys unexpected withdrawal of the proposalswhich could have placed charter school students in classrooms at MS 72 in Rochdale and at Q420 on the Springfield Gardens Educational Complex. The plans removal followed a hearing in which parents and elected officials voiced their concerns that the charter school placements would pose significant challenges for the existing schools.

In December, the PEP voted to approve the move of Success Academy students from MS 53 in Far Rockaway to the campus of Waterside School for Leadership in Rockaway Park, beginning in September 2023. The Waterside Childrens Studio School, which currently shares the building with Waterside middle school students, will be relocated to the former Stella Maris High School building, which was renamed PS 593.

We need to pass this resolution even if it is a symbolic gesture to let [our neighboring] school communities know we are in support of opposing the charter school co-locations, said Tabio DaCruz, the UFT Alternate Representative for District 27.

New School in Richmond Hill

Meanwhile the School Construction Authority is looking at a four lot parcel at 120-08 Jamaica Avenue to construct a 697-seat primary school, according to Danielle Schaaff, community relations manager at the School Construction Authority.

If the proposal moves forward, it will need the final approval of the City Council before construction can begin.

Schaaff said there have been 119 SCA projects completed in District 27 since 2020 at a total cost of $147 million. These capital improvements include auditorium, cafeteria and heating upgrades, new playgrounds, window replacements, roof work and building additions.

When questioned about anticipated seats to accommodate new residents moving into

Downtown developments in Far Rockaway, Schaaff said the SCA is in conversations with the Office of District Planning and closely monitoring projected numbers, but there is no current plan to create new seats.

Superintendents Report

Superintendent David Norment said his initiative to retrain teachers in reading and math instruction is underway.

The way we teach our students to read is shifting from a whole language approach back to phonics-based instruction, said Norment.

By June of 2023, all District 27 team members, principals, pre-k and kindergarten teachers will be retrained in the science of reading, he added. Teachers will also receive instruction on new strategies for teaching math to students in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Norment said the district is reaching out to elected officials to help fund the training.

Were not going to see a bump in our state test scores immediately, he warned. But this is a long-term fix to better instruction for our students.

In Other News

A vote to approve the new name STAR Leadership Academy for PS 377 in Ozone Park was scheduled for the CECs February meeting.

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District 27 Supports Cuts To Charter School Co-location - The Wave - The Wave, Rockaway's Newspaper Since 1893