In his Nov. 8-14 TimesLedger Newspapers column, Bob Friedrich discussed the recent city Department of Education decision to co-locate a P-tech high school within the Martin Van Buren High School building. Friedrich spoke in favor of the P-tech concept and also said the co-location of a separate high school was the best method to administer this new program.
This proposal has been quite controversial and has been discussed at length at both of our civic meetings over the last few months. Allowing for differences of opinion within our organizations, we have found that the consensus is that the P-tech program sounds great and would be considered seriously by many students and families.
But most of our members who have expressed an opinion have said it would make more sense for the P-tech program to be run by the Martin Van Buren HS administration.
For one thing, there has been anecdotal evidence that co-locations have been detrimental to existing schools. We want to be sure that MVB continues to have the resources necessary to continue its remarkable improvement. In fact, P-tech would be a great complement to the innovative courses being developed at MVB in the fields of law and forensics, medical careers, anthropology and robotics.
We believe one administration would result in better coordination of programs, more efficient use of resources and better relations with the community.
Since this is a new concept without much of a track record, no one knows for sure what the best path is. We believe, however, that the idea of running P-tech within Martin Van Buren HS deserves serious consideration. We support the efforts of City Councilman Mark Weprin (D-Oakland Gardens) and state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), among others, to explore this approach.
Needless to say, we will do everything in our power to support either or both schools once a final decision has been reached.
Mike O’Keeffe
President
Creedmoor Civic Association
Bellerose
Frank Toner
President
Rocky Hill Civic Association
Bellerose Manor
