Passionate supporters of a local high school came out in droves to rally against its possible closure.
The New York City Department of Education (DOE) is currently looking for a turnaround plan for the school after the state DOE placed the school on its Persistently Lowest Achieving (PLA) list this past winter and recommended restructuring – which could mean shutting down the famed school.
“Schools are designated PLA according to state rules and here in the city, we’re committed to finding the right turnaround plan for each PLA school that will provide the best opportunity for success,” said a spokesperson for the city DOE.
As a show of support for the school, Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer donned his alma mater’s blue and gold and joined hundreds of students, parents, teachers, alumni and fellow community members at a rally in the school’s auditorium on Thursday, March 31.
“I will always be proud to stand in support of Bryant with fellow alums, former teachers, students and parents to speak up and share what Bryant has meant and will always mean to me,” said Van Bramer. “It is within these school walls I developed my passion to debate and began my aspirations towards government and the public sector – I am Bryant High School and I am now a New York City councilmember.”
Bryant scored a 59.6 percent graduation rate for 2010 on the New York City Progress Report. The city DOE said that this number was not used in the PLA determination and that the state uses its own methodology to determine which schools make the list.
The councilmember, however, said that Bryant has a 100-year-old history that cannot be denied and that the DOE’s numbers do not tell the whole story.
“It’s been over 20 years since I graduated from Bryant High School, but the memories and lessons I learned here will last a lifetime,” said the councilmember, who graduated from Bryant in 1987. “As a former student and current councilmember that represents this school in the New York City Council I know that this school is a great institution.”
Congressmember Carolyn Maloney backed up Van Bramer’s charge that the DOE is overlooking crucial statistics.
“Bryant High School is not a failing school. In the last three years, its graduation rates have gone up nearly 10 points and its DOE progress reports have been B’s and C’s,” said Maloney. “Above all, this school has the overwhelming support of the community which is a key ingredient in ensuring its success.”
Former students who came back in support of their old school had similar thoughts. Jeffrey Guzman, 20, said that without Bryant, he is unsure of the kind of man he would have become.
“I grew up here,” said Guzman. “This is where kids come to learn how to be better people and build a better tomorrow. I was shocked when I found out it might close.”
Tricia Mohamed, whose son Matthew is now a senior at Bryant, said that Bryant’s plight speaks to a larger issue throughout the city – great schools are falling by the wayside.
“Bryant is a major part of the community,” said Mohamed, who graduated in 1991. “We can’t let great schools like this close.”
The city DOE said that they have received no communication from Bryant appealing its graduation rate.
