NYC scraps plan to expand Success Academy charter school sites after parent, union protest

New York’s school system is backing away from plans to open three schools from the city’s largest charter chain after opposition from unions, parents and elected officials, Daily News has learned.

On Monday, officials removed the proposals from the Education Policy Group meeting agenda, so the governing body will not vote as planned on plans to open Success Academy elementary schools in Department of Education buildings in Queens and the Bronx.

Chancellor of Schools David Banks said in a statement that the decision was made “after hearing throughout this process from members of the community that the proposals would create significant challenges for new schools and existing schools co-located.”

Hudson Yards Success Academy High School in Manhattan.

Proposals to build buildings X113 in Williamsbridge, Q420 in Springfield Gardens, and Q072 in Jamaica were strongly opposed by families and teachers at current schools, who organized protests and raised questions in public forums.

Hundreds of students left the class last month to defy Queens’ plan to have Success Academy’s elementary school comprised of four high schools. Another protest was organized by the United Federation of Teachers ahead of Tuesday’s vote to push back against this, as well as a second proposal in the district.

Thomas Sheppard, who represents Bronx Parents on the panel, said the proposal to locate Success Academy on the Richard R. Green campus is based on a mismatch between the school’s usage records and the resources of the two existing high schools.

“When you walk past an empty classroom into a classroom with 35 kids, it looks like you have an empty room on paper,” Sheppard said. “But the room is empty, not because of the students, but because they don’t have teachers to divide it into two classes. The way it looked on paper did not reflect the reality of what was going on at the school.”

Students use the entrance to Success Academy and Opportunity Charity Schools, both of which share space inside PS 241 Harlem in New York City.

Schools have also recently engaged a local organization to provide after-school programs and family services, which Sheppard says have greatly improved school safety: “Now that they’ve improved the climate, they need a place to provide the programs they need to get students on the right track.” way. ”

Powerful Bronx officials, including State Assembly Speaker Carl Histie and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, also joined families and educators in pushing back against the school. .

Success Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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