Pols rally to save Flushing High

Flushing will not go down so easily.
That is the message Assemblymember Grace Meng wanted to convey when she called for a joint statement with Senator Toby Ann Stavisky and City Councilmember Peter Koo on Friday, February 5.
The statement was in response to a report that Flushing High School was one of a number of city schools that were being monitored for possible closure. Meng, whose statements were sometimes pointed directly at Schools Chancellor Joel Klein, said that she is ready to stand tough against any possible closing.
“We wanted to take the offensive on this,” said Meng. “We want the Chancellor to know that there is a human face on this – and there are people here who really care about their school. We are sending a strong message that we will not accept closure.”
Meng was most concerned that Flushing parents might be worried that their high school would follow the same path as Jamaica and Beach Channel, which the Department of Education voted to close last month.
Whereas those two schools had been dogged by poor graduation rates, a major reason for their closing, Flushing representatives said that their school’s graduation numbers have been rising steadily for a number of years.
“Flushing had a graduation rate of 59-percent in 2009, up from 39-percent in 2002,” said Stavisky. “The school is a hidden gem and we’re here to get the word out. They’ve made a great deal of progress and that will continue.”
Stavinsky, Meng and Koo met with Flushing High School Principal Cornelia Gutwein and school faculty and staff to discuss how they can work together to keep the school open in its current form.
“Personally, I want to offer my assistance to work with all to ensure this school performs, educates and prepares our young adults for a bright future,” said Koo. “All schools have problems, as does Flushing. So let’s analyze the problem, put together an innovative and creative team of professionals and develop a plan to assist our students and allow them to achieve.”
United Federation of Teachers’ Queens Representative James Vasquez, who was at the forefront of the fight to keep Jamaica High School open, said that those in power ought to take a step back and realize these are schools, not business dealings.
“Education is not a business,” said Vasquez. “Progress is not made in one day or one year.”