Seven Qns. Institutions Face ‘Turnaround’
For many of the same reasons which led the Department of Education (DOE) to propose the closing and replacement of Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, the agency is also seeking to take similar action at seven other high schools across Queens deemed to be struggling.
The additional high schools on the DOE’s chopping block include Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Flushing High School, August Martin High School in Jamaica, Richmond Hill High School, John Adams High School in Ozone Park, Long Island City High School and William Cullen Bryant High School in Woodside.
As with Grover Cleveland, the DOE-under the federal “turn- around” model-plans to close each of the high schools and replace them with new high schools. At least 50 percent of the existing staff will be replaced with new faculty members, new standards will be implemented and each school will be eligible to receive federal funding.
Regarding Long Island City High School, its impending closure and replacement will not affect P.S. 993, a District 75 special education school co-located on the high school’s campus.
Incoming freshmen at each new school will be admitted through the standard high school admissions process, while all incoming sophomores, juniors and seniors will be guaranteed seats at their respective new schools.
Parents and students will have a chance to speak for or against the DOE proposals at public hearings to be held at all schools slated to be closed and replaced. The calendar of hearings are as follows:
– Newtown High School- Tuesday night, Apr. 17, at 6 p.m. at the high school located at 48- 01 90th St. in Elmhurst;
– Flushing High School- Wednesday night, Apr. 18, at 6 p.m. at the high school located at 35-01 Union St.;
– August Martin High School-Monday night, Apr. 16, at 6 p.m. at the high school located at 156-10 Baisley Blvd. in Jamaica;
– Richmond Hill High School- Thursday night, Apr. 5, at 6 p.m. at the high school located at 89- 30 114th St.;
– John Adams High School- Thursday night, Apr. 19, at 6 p.m. at the high school located at 101- 01 Rockaway Blvd. in Ozone Park;
– Long Island City High School-Tuesday night, Apr. 17, at 6 p.m. at the high school located at 14-30 Broadway in Astoria;
– William Cullen Bryant High School-Tuesday night, Apr. 3, at 6 p.m. at the high school located at 48-10 31st Ave. in Woodside.
All of the “turnaround” proposals will be voted on by the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) at their meeting on Thursday night, Apr. 26, at 6 p.m. at the Prospect Heights Campus located at 883 Classon Ave. in Brooklyn.
Prior to the public hearings, the DOE is accepting comments from residents regarding the plans. Oral remarks may be submitted to the DOE by calling 1- 212-374-7621. Written comments may be sent by mail to Elaine Gorman, Division of Portfolio Planning, 52 Chambers St., New York, N.Y. 10007.
Those wishing to submit comments via e-mail can send them to the following addresses based on each high school:
– Grover Cleveland and Newtown high schools-D24Proposals@ schools.nyc.gov;
– Flushing High School- D25Proposals@schools.nyc.gov;
– August Martin, Richmond Hill and John Adams high schools- D27Proposals@schools.nyc.gov;
– Long Island City and William Cullen Bryant high schools- D30Proposals@schools.nyc.gov.
