‘Saved’ Boro Schools To Get 30 Freshmen
By Jessica Ablamsky
The fate of three Queens high schools is hanging in the balance due to a pending decision from the State Court of Appeals that could allow the Department of Education to close 19 schools in the city. A ruling is expected in the next few weeks.On the chopping block in Queens are Beach Channel High School in Rockaway Park; Business, Computer Applications and Entrepreneurship High School at Campus Magnet in Cambria Heights; and Jamaica High School in Jamaica.
As of press time, none of the three have more than 30 incoming freshmen committed to attend next year, said James Vasquez, Queens High School District Representative for the United Federation of Teachers.
Last year, Beach Channel had more than 400 freshmen, while the business high school had nearly 200 and Jamaica had nearly 540.
Union reps agree that the DOE is proceeding as if the schools are going to close in September.
“If there is any sanity anywhere in the system, they are not going to let us go with 23 freshmen,” said James Eterno, UFT Chapter leader for Jamaica.
Listed in a report on the DOE Web site as new high schools slated to open in September 2010, are three that would take the place of the business school and Jamaica High School.
Reduced enrollment could be due to a letter sent to eighth-graders who put as their first choice any of the 19 schools. It informed parents that the school is failing academically and slated for closure, but to call if they still wanted to enroll their child.
“If I got a letter like that, I would think twice about sending my kids there, too,” Eterno said.
If the court upholds the closure, it is unclear whether the DOE would phase out the freshman class this September.
“I don’t know that they could do that right now,” Vasquez said. “The schools still have to plan for next year regardless of what legal decision the court makes.”
If the court blocks the closure, Jamaica High School officials would like the opportunity to canvas their zone and invite students back to the school, Eterno said.
Last December, the DOE announced plans to phase out the 19 schools, starting this fall. The UFT challenged the DOE in court and won, delaying the closure.
“Their practice has not been to shut the school down in one year,” Vasquez said.
Closure begins by not accepting incoming freshman, and ends when the last class graduates.
DOE officials have already abandoned the 19 schools, Vasquez said.
“I don’t think they have any particular plans for how these schools are going to be successful,” he said.
Enrollment next year at other high schools in Queens should remain about the same.
“We all anticipated that these schools would have lower enrollment, especially since the DOE is opening six new schools,” he said. “What is the purpose of the new schools if they are not going to alleviate crowding?”
The DOE did not return multiple requests for comment.
Reach Reporter Jessica Ablamsky at jablamsky@queenstribune.com, or (718) 357-7400, Ext. 124.