Sep 4, 2015 2 min read school overcrowding

NYCDOE Releases Map Of Proposed School Zone Changes For PS 307 And PS 8

The city Department of Education's proposed zone change for PS8 and PS307 in School District 13. (Image via NYCDOE). — The city Department of Education’s proposed zone change for PS8 and PS307 in School District 13. (Image via NYCDOE).

In an effort to relieve overcrowding at PS 8 in Brooklyn Heights and make greater use of PS 307 in Vinegar Hill, the city Department of Education (DOE) is planning to redraw the boundaries of each school’s zone, effective by September 2016.

According to a presentation made at Community Education Council District 13’s September 1 meeting, the new zone boundaries were drafted with a few goals in mind: reducing overcrowding, balancing diversity, reducing commute times and distance, accounting for new residential construction in the zones, and meeting community concerns.

As you can see, the above map shows that the current zone for PS 307 (209 York Street) is barely there, while the overcrowded PS 8 (37 Hicks Street) zone is almost the entirety of the coastline between Atlantic Avenue and the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Currently, there are 162 kindergarteners at PS 8 and 17 at PS 307; the new zone would balance that out to 102 kindergarteners at PS 8 and 77 at PS 307.

The proposed changes would also shift student demographics, making PS 307’s “minority” majority less pronounced — from 95 percent “minority” to a projected 55%-65% minority population.

These proposed changes are, of course, not final and require community input.If approved, the DOE says that rezoning won’t affect existing students and may not affect incoming students who already have siblings at their current zoned school.

Now, community input is needed. As noted in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:

In order for the rezoning to be in effect for kindergarten and pre-K applications for the 2016-17 school year, it will have to be finalized by the end of this November. This means there is a very tight schedule for community input on the proposal.

CEC13 will take suggestions or questions by email — it is suggested that they be emailed to CEC13@nyc.schools.gov with copies to the superintedent, BFreeman6@nyc.schools.gov, and to the planners, BrooklynZoning@nyc.schools.gov.

CEC13 wants to have a plan ready for submission at a meeting at P.S. 307 on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6:30 p.m. If the plan is approved at that meeting, CEC13 will vote on it within 45 days thereafter. It will then go to the superintendent for approval.

If any significant changes are made to the plan after Sept. 30 — a subsequent meeting is scheduled at P.S. 8 on Oct. 20 — the 45 day period will commence anew.