State Senator Daniel Squadron is introducing a bill in Albany today designed to prevent the kind of school overcrowding problem plaguing our neighbors on the West Side. He announced the legislation yesterday in front of P.S. 234 in Tribeca, with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh looking on.

Although Lower East Side schools [...]

Public hearing on Girls Prep expansion proposal, December 2009

Earlier this week, we posted our interview with Michael Duffy, who oversees New York City’s charter schools.  There’s one section in particular that isn’t exactly sitting well with some parents and education activists. During the interview, Duffy expressed his views on a state-mandated public hearing held [...]

Michael Duffy listens at a charter school hearing in February.

Last week, a long-running debate pitting parents on the Lower East Side against one another finally came to an end. After two emotional public hearings in the neighborhood, the Department of Education’s policy panel voted to approve a proposal allowing the Girls Prep Charter School [...]

Protesting the expansion plan, February 12th.

The Girls Prep Charter School has won a hard-fought battle to expand its middle school on the Lower East Side. Last night, the Department of Education’s policy panel voted to approve the expansion plans of 13 charter schools across the city, including Girls Prep.  The decision means the school [...]

The other day we noted the New York Public Library has decided to close several branches on Sundays due to budget cuts. The Seward Park Branch on East Broadway is one of five locations that canceled Sunday hours, as of this past weekend.  Now Senator Daniel Squadron has written a letter to Paul LeClerc, president [...]

At the Shuang Wen School on Cherry Street yesterday, students entertained parents, teachers and invited guests — in a special performance celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year. Among those observing: Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and former Councilmember Alan Gerson.

Parents and students on opposite sides of a fierce fight for scarce classroom space faced off on East Houston Street Thursday afternoon. On one side, supporters of P.S. 188 and P.S. 94, carrying handmade signs and chanting, “save out schools.” On the other side, a smaller group from the Girls Prep Charter School, responding with [...]

Councilmember Rosie Mendez

As we reported over the weekend, Councilmember Rosie Mendez and parents from two middle schools are stepping up their opposition to the expansion of the Girls Prep Charter School. Last month, the Department of Education announced it would allow the school to expand in its current location, on East Houston Street.  Girls [...]

Last week we reported that District 1’s Education Council passed a resolution protesting the Department of Education’s handling of a state-mandated hearing at Manhattan Charter School. In what they said was a recurring problem, the DOE scheduled the hearing, to consider a renewal of the LES school’s charter, at the same time as the monthly [...]