This Brooklyn Heights Mom is Furious After Last Night’s P.S. 8 Town Hall on Overcrowding

Hi – I wrote this article and I wanted to address some of these comments:
1. I chose to post anonymously b/c I am applying to P.S. 8 next year with a kid going into Kindergarten. It is not only our first choice school, but it is really our only choice. I do not want to criticize the DOE publicly and then see my name on a registration and not let my kid into the school.
2. David, Wiliam, etc. – We bought our place in Brooklyn Heights way before we had kids and at the time, we did factor in the schools. PS 8 was “up and coming” with a brand new principal and we were excited to send our at-the-time-unborn children there. We also did not move to Dumbo b/c we wanted to avoid the new big building boom and potential overcrowding. Still, we might get screwed…
3. To PS 8 Parent – you obviously weren’t at the meeting last night b/c the PTA parents talked about how they only have an art room and a music room and they will likely lose to those spaces next year. They also talked about overcrowding at recess and lunch. I’m glad to hear that it’s an eggageration. I *WANT* my kids to go to PS 8. I know several families there and they all rave about it!!! I want the community public school experience for them. I wrote this for an outlet, but I’m planning to get very involved in this issue and part of a group that is already planning some next steps.
4. I was VERY VERY impressed with the PTA presidents. They are doing everything that they can to mobilize the community on this issue.
5. Reggie – I did say that it is clear that there will be no decisions made by the DOE until the Spring. I get why, buy it’s unnerving and scary to those of us who need a spot for our kid next year, The CEC president, if that’s what he meant, then he should call out the people who live on Jay St and wont send their kids to 307 b/c it’s “diverse” to put it mildly. Sorry this all got lost in snark, I was really riled up last night when I sent this to Homer.

6. Dock Street Middle School – I did a lot of research on this and could not find any reference other than a vague “planned 300 seat middle school”, so, that, coupled with the DOE’s lack of an answer makes it seem like it’s up for grabs. If the intention is for this space to be a middle school for 307, THAT will be an interesting dialog to witness…
OK – in the words of the immortal Taylor Swift, “haters gonna hate”, but I just want my kids to go to their local neighborhood school and I’ll do everything I can to make that possible

Since my points from last night were omitted in the pursuit of being snarky, here they are. The PTA presentation (which was brilliantly clear in communicating the overcrowding issue) articulated the importance of short and long term solutions and invited a broad discussion of the problem. To those points, I responded in way that would be helpful in understanding and solving this problem, particularly some understanding of political, policy and economics driving the matter. There were two main points made.

1. City Council Member Stephen Levin has considerable power to mitigate some of the overcrowding, certainly over the fate of the Brooklyn Heights Public Library or any project going through ULURP, which can impact PS8 going forward in several ways (my take is explained below but impacts were also presented by the PS8 PTA). Given CM Levin’s power, I asked him on the spot (twice) to publicly support a moratorium on the sale of the BPHL until the PS8 overcrowding issue is resolved. The second time I ask, CM Levin stated loud and clear that he could not do that.

Before I asked him, I explained that the BHPL project must go through ULURP, a city process that the City Council Votes for approval. Most importantly, I explained how historically the City Council Member in the district of the project under review was normally deferred to by other Council members. In other words, with Levin asking for a Moratorium he could instantly derail the project. This would give the PS8 community significant leverage over the Mayor who really wants the library sold-off for affordable housing. Our overcrowding problem would get the full and immediate attention of the Mayor. Levin could do this with one press release or phone call to Mayor de Blasio given that they are long time friends and political allies.

In my post meeting analysis of CM Levin’s split-second and unequivocal rejection of such a moratorium, it is clear that he is more aligned with development interests and the mayor (aka more overbuilding) than ensuring that we get the best possible outcome for our school under the PS8/MS8 banner. It also suggests to me that if a new school is built, it will not be in Brooklyn Heights proper and the PS8 district will be split.

In terms of the impacts of the BHPL development, most obviously, the luxury residential hi-rise on this site will further add to the overcrowding and the BPL is pushing for the completion of this project fast and hard with major penalties for the developer if they don’t finish on time. Construction is planned to begin in 2016. The PS8 PTA had slides stating it would add to the PS8 overcrowding but wasn’t even included in the projections upwards of 1,200 seats presented because they were only looking at projects already approved.

The other compelling interest in the BPHL site is that it could be the site for a PS8 School expansion and ought to be explored fully before disposing of it from public control to private developers. The site is perhaps the last NYC publicly owned parcel, aside from parkland, that is in Brooklyn Heights proper.
2. We have to understand what got us into this rapid overdevelop that caused the overcrowding if we really want to get a grip on this situation (and other districts as well). I explained how our tax dollars were being used against us to harm us in the form of major tax abatements particularly the J51 for renovations of existing structures and the 421A for new construction on the NYS level (I didn’t even get into the Federal Historic Tax Credit). The result of these tax abatements were a one-two punch in that they provide powerful profit incentives that accelerate the overbuilding and cause school overcrowding but then there’s no money to build schools to keep up because the tax abatements deplete the tax revenues by tens of millions if not billions up to 25 years.

The 25 year point was made in asking CM Levin and he happily shared this figure and I tied this into his earlier point of how anticipated commercial development ended up breaking ground as residential projects. These tools may have been helpful when many left NYC decades ago or in impoverished areas of NYS (and even that can be debated in terms of the gentrification and pushing out/up rooting of people from communities) but they are dangerous and harming much of Brooklyn right now. I did make the point that many politicians are fine with these abatements (and by deduction the overcrowding of schools) because developers and real estate special interests contribute to campaigns and get politicians elected.

In this harmful context of lost tax revenue and overcrowding from overbuilding incentives, I then appealed to our NYS representatives Assembly-elect Jo Anne Simon and Senator Dan Squadron to bring this abatement policy problem to the fore and to work on it on the state level.

In closing, I’m not sure how this was characterized as campaigning for some future office and I do invite the author to further conversation anytime. Nonetheless, I care deeply about the PS8 community as I have so many friends here and a second grader with four more years to go. I hope what I had to say is helpful for the greater community in understanding some of the challenges we are up against and that school overcrowding with depleted tax base from abatements will continue to haunt us and all of Brooklyn until a few elected officials are willing to address this policy problem and bring attention to it.

Warm Regards,
Doug Biviano

PS, the amount of work the PS8 PTA did in creating their presentation, and it was crystal clear to the point, is overwhelming to think of and I thank them dearly.

amen. it is total self-serving political dribble…

PS 307 is a FANTASTIC school. Students in Dumbo and Vinegar Hill are fortunate they can go there. Stop the racist zoning games and fix the problem….

PS 307 already has a middle school in its building. The Dock Street Middle School is found in the most recent SCA capital plan. Money was already allocated for 333 middle school seats (which would translate into far fewer elementary seats, and even fewer if pre-k is included). There are many THOUSANDS of parents all across the district whose kids aren’t at PS 8, don’t have a middle school attached to their elementary school, and desperately need the new middle school to stay a middle school. Because the DOE’s middle school choice scheme in this district has basically assured that there are no quality options outside of Arts & Letters and MS 8. So yes, there will certainly be dialog – to be honest, I expect that the interests of the predominately low-income and minority families of the rest of the district will be pretty handily over-ridden by … people like you… but that doesn’t mean we won’t try.

if you read carefully, it seems that the potential for a wait list is being driven by the PTAs insistence that they keep their cluster rooms instead of convert them to classrooms. many other schools in the district have already been forced to give up their cluster rooms for classrooms – which they have, due to co-locations, pre-k expansion, etc. it’s not unreasonable to want to keep space for art and music, but it is not as if this is a unique outrage being visited upon PS 8.

The loss of cluster/specialty rooms is absolutely a problem across the city for a variety of reasons. I don’t think it’s fair to say that the potential for a wait list is being driven by the PTA’s insistence that they “keep” their cluster rooms. We’re already down 1 from what we’re supposed to have this year, and were down 2 last year (we only had an art room). We have 30 usable classrooms in the building; this year we are using 28. Next year, we lose 3 5th grade classes and — if everything is the same as it has been for the past 3 years, we will gain 6 K classes. That means we’d have 31 classrooms worth of kids, or more than we have in our building. Barring a mass exodus — which could happen, increasing cost of living does drive people out of the neighborhood — the option is to condense more grades into very large (27-32 kids) classes AND lose MORE cluster rooms. Within 2-3 years, even that is no longer an option; we just don’t have the space.

I just looked through the cluster rooms required/reported in last year’s blue book, and PS8 was very close to the top of the list in D13 in terms how many cluster rooms it was short. There was a handful of others right there with it, but the overwhelming majority of D13 schools actually reported more cluster rooms that they were “required” to have.

I know that all schools — and many D13 schools — have challenges; I would like to think there are ways we find common ground, instead of denigrating the legitimate concerns of our sister schools.

The Dock Street middle school was one way Walentas got support for his monstrosity from Marty Markowitz and the City Council.

Yes, I’m aware. Also aware that most of Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO (including most of the other politicians) came out against it. But here it is.

No offense – posting a snarky, ill-conceived message from an angry “friend” doesn’t help this very serious issue. It borders on irresponsible, if I dare say.

It’s fantastic because the Principal, Roberta Davenport is fantastic. She’s an incredibly experienced, bright and serious educator who is truly dedicated to the students, staff, parents and community.

She has worked non-stop since taking over as Principal, to improve, enhance and build a quality experience for all involved (not too different from what Seth Phillips had to do at PS8, just harder). Innovative programs keep coming, private institutions, the Federal govt, companies want to work with her.
She’s the real deal!!

Shame if fear prevents parents from seeing the gem in their midst….

From Inside Schools:
“In District 13, PS 307 is developing a reputation as a school where good things are happening. PS 307’s pre-kindergarten program is attracting children of middle class families in DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights. Students with special needs from throughout the district come for the school’s excellent ASD Nest program.

Unlike some nearby schools, enrollment is increasing instead of falling.

Principal Roberta Davenport is credited for the school’s tone and progress. She has forged partnerships with city and neighborhood agencies as well as artists and entrepreneurs.

A $1.8 million magnet grant for science and math education (STEM) provides hands-on science and math at least three hours per week to each child, featuring projects that engage children. In a farm-to-table curriculum, 4-year-olds learn to compost table scraps and create gardens; outside educators teach 6-year-olds wearing lab coats to dissect squid, and 5th-graders eagerly compete to see whose structure will be highest in the “marshmallow challenge.” The grant also brings much-needed to technology to the school as well as outside experts.

PS 307 was chosen to be a host school for the Department of Education’s Learning Partners program, based on its “holistic approach to meeting all students’ academic, social and emotional needs.” Weekly lessons focus on the four “R’s”—reading, writing, respect and resolution. A Mandarin-speaking teacher gives language immersion lessons to the youngest children.

Students are trained to become mediators, and there are consequences for bad behavior.

Teachers tend to stay at PS 307 and give the principal high marks for her leadership.”

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130520/vinegar-hill/principal-returns-home-transform-school-need

http://dobroschools.org/new-prek-5-stem-magnet-school-nearbycheck-it-out/

http://www.brooklynfriends.org/RelId/605963/ISvars/default/Approaching_New_Horizons:_BFS_.htm

It”s one person’s opinion.

This is a blog meant to be a platform for thoughts, feelings and opinions of the community. Your opinion may differ – THAT’S THE POINT.

Guest posts have been written by our electeds, those running for office, “regular” folks and others. What would be irresponsible is ignoring those voices.

Should this parent be concerned? Of course.

I’m a parent of a child born in 2010. I’m told that I shouldn’t be worried about her getting into K next year.

I also went to public school in the 70s when it was a real joy ride. We had 28 – 32 kids in a class. We had teachers who should have been put in the infamous “Rubber Room” who were never relieved of their duties.

I’m looking at you 7th grade math teacher.

Did we all turn out ok? Sure, but it could have been much better.

What we’re at risk of at PS 8 is undermining the work of Mr. Phillips, the teacher and PTA to make the school great.

Remember making the school a quality one was one of the three aims of CCIC – aka the folks who achieved landmark status for Brooklyn Heights – in 1958.

1958. IT TOOK ALMOST FIFTY YEARS TO GET IT RIGHT.

If BHB existed in 1958 would you have dismissed a guest post from Otis Pearsall, Martin Schneider or Edwards Rullman?

Note that we also reported about the meeting here, and the PTA commended Beth’s report saying it was accurate and comprehensive. http://brooklynheightsblog.com/archives/72014

– Homer

It only proves all involved haven’t communicated well enough for the average person to understand what’s going on.

Now you’re getting it.

Thanks. Beth’s piece wasn’t there when the Guest blogger’s was added.