DOE Postpones Rezoning Of PS 307 And PS 8 After Community Outcry

The planned November vote by Community Education Council 13 on whether to support the controversial rezoning of PS 307 and PS 8’s borders has been postponed, but only to December/January, according to WNYC Schoolbook.

‎”Based on the feedback received to date, the [New York City Department of Education] is proposing to extend the deadline to vote on the District 13 rezoning proposal to allow for more meaningful dialogue with impacted communities, and we’ll ensure that families are supported throughout the enrollment process,” said DOE spokesperson Devora Kaye in a statement.

That’s welcome news, some CEC 13 board members told WNYC, although if there’s no chance of the “meaningful dialogue” having any effect on the rezoning plans, then there’s the question of what’s the point?

“Obviously more engagement is necessary,” said Horace Allison, a CEC member, adding he worried the process would seem disingenuous if the city was not open to tweaking its proposal.

“This rapid implementation of massive zone change is problematic and we’re not ready to proceed at this time,” insisted Reverend Dr. Martin VC Taylor of the Church of the Open Door at 201 Gold Street. “This presentation recognizes that we have a merger of two different communities, motivated by demographic changes, but there is a tension that needs to be addressed and well thought out. This plan assumes there won’t be tension and it will be seamless and we’ll all sing kumbaya.

“This whole presentation is based on PS 8 [needs]. There’s been no discussion of PS 307’s history or interests. . . [Former principal] Ms. Davenport developed a great program that addressed the neglect from the city, state, and federal agencies, and now Ms. Carroll won’t have the opportunity to implement those plans if this new plan goes into effect. New leadership needs time to develop.”

Mom Dolores Cheatom agreed, noting that “There was a time when nobody wanted to come here except those already in the [housing] projects. . . I have no problem working with anybody, but I won’t let anyone take what’s here and replace it.”

PS 307, at 209 York Street in Vinegar Hill/Fort Greene, serves primarily the residents of Farragut Houses public housing project, with a 95 percent minority student population. PS 8 (37 Hicks Street), meanwhile, has a 34 percent minority population and primarily serves students of families who can afford to live in Brooklyn Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, and DUMBO.

PS 8 parents are also overwhelmingly concerned about the rezoning plan, questioning whether the DOE will allocate more resources to PS 307 to support the sort of educational programs that they feel are unique to the highly in-demand PS 8.

“It’s alarming that there has been a complete lack of transparency and planning for integration,” said one DUMBO father at the September 16 community meeting at PS 307. “I had no idea about this before one week ago. What additional resources and funding will go to facilitate integration? To have this for the [2016-2017] school year is absurd. No one was involved in this discussion.”