Parents concerned over middle school options
by Noah Fowle

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Parents who attended a meeting this week at P.S. 71 said they were not satisfied with the middle school options available for their children next year, and joined with community leaders in pledging to pressure the Department of Education to address their concerns.

With parents of fifth-graders at the Pelham Bay school now deciding where their children will attend sixth grade next year, many in attendance at the March 21 meeting said they were not pleased with choosing between I.S. 192 or vying for one of 400 spaces in new middle schools around the Bronx. A significant number of the parents at Monday's well-attended meeting with school officials said they will enroll their child in one of the local Catholic schools next year, citing concerns about safety and academics at I.S. 192.

Upset over what they feel is an arbitrary timeline by the DOE to even consider reinstating sixth grade at P.S. 71, parents asked why improvements were being made so quickly at I.S. 192, while P.S. 71 could only hope for the possibility that the city will add sixth, seventh and eighth grade classes to the Pelham Bay school, one year at a time, and starting in the fall of 2006at the earliest.

Olivia Scala-Tutino, a parent with a child in P.S. 71, said that she was fed up with hearing about plans to make changes and insisted on immediate action. "Every year, it's a new proposal and a new system. We are tired of this rhetoric. We want to see something done now," Scala-Tutino said. "We are a community who pays the taxes that pay the salaries of these school administrators. We should be making the decisions, not them."

Despite over 75 parents and several community leaders showing up to voice their strong support to reinstate sixth grade at the school after it was eliminated five years ago, the principal of P.S. 71, Lance Cooper, took all the wind out of their sails by explaining the impossibility of expanding the school from K through 5 to include upper grades by the coming academic year.

Cooper explained that chancellor-dictated models for schools no longer allow for K through 6 schools, nor would any changes be made in time to keep the 2005 graduating class of fifth-graders at the Roberts Avenue school next year. "We are working in a centralized system and we are trying to put together a viable proposal for the school to go to include three more grades," said Cooper. "We've reached out to our superintendent Laura Rodriguez. But nothing is a done deal."

Cooper explained the next step in the process would be for the DOE to conduct a feasibility study to determine if the school could accommodate the additional grades. "This is a complicated issue with many facets," he said. "It will take time."

Cooper also said that he did not wish to endanger the elementary school's current high standards by making such an abrupt change to turn it into a middle school by the fall.

Vinny Prestipino, an executive member of the parents association, said that if time or logistics were an issue, the local community would chip in to help. "We are the type of school that would have the parents moving desks around during the summer if that's what it took to get this done," Prestipino said.

Despite their willingness to help in making sixth grade at P.S. 71 a reality by the upcoming school year, many parents said they felt as if they had few options for their children who will be attending middle school next fall. I.S. 192, the only local public middle school, has received a lot of criticism in spite of ongoing efforts to reorganize the school, and marked improvements in academics and safety, according to school officials. Many parents said they would rather pay both their taxes and private school tuition for their children to attend a local parochial school, than send them to I.S. 192 on Hollywood Avenue.

Patrice Reilly questioned the city's inability to make the necessary changes at P.S. 71 by September. "How come they can restructure I.S. 192 in less than a year, but not our school?" she asked.

"My daughter is not ready for that kind of environment at I.S. 192," said Julie Macrino. "She will be going to Catholic school next year instead."

Brandeo Persaud said that he moved to the area two years ago because of the reputation of the local public elementary schools. "This is a great school and I have a wonderful relationship with its staff," Persaud said. "But it's a shame that now I'm going to have to stick my kids into a school were safety is a problem." Persaud added that one of his children already attends a weekend program at I.S. 192, and he doesn't feel comfortable with the situation there. He, too, said he plans to send his children to a local Catholic school if drastic changes are not instituted at I.S. 192 by next year.

Ever since the New York City public school system was centralized under mayoral control three years ago, local decision-making has been all but eliminated. Although the mayor and the chancellor he appointed are now accountable for the success or failure of the city's public education system, many community members are upset that they no longer have any input into the system.

Tony Cannata, president of the Waterbury-LaSalle Community Association, said that local residents best understand the issues affecting area schools, and their input is invaluable when faced with situations such as the current one surrounding P.S. 71 and I.S 192. "Neighborhoods are what make up this city," he said. "And we know what is best for our children, not the city officials downtown."

Cannata vowed to continue his fight to see a resolution that would satisfy parents by the coming fall. "We will not settle for a sixth grade next year. We want it now," said Cannata. "We got it taken away in three months," he said, referring to the elimination of sixth grade at P.S. 71a half-decade ago, "so working together, we can bring it back in five months."

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