P.S./M.S 138 School Leadership Team Response To the Proposed Co-Location of Success Academy Charter School (SACS) in Our Building I. The proposed co-location will rob P.S./M.S 138 of space that is essential to the delivery of its winning academic program, thereby harming students. 2 The co-location proposal emphasizes Success Academy’s accomplishments and ignores P.S./M.S. 138’s “The four SACS elementary schools that received a Progress Report for the 2010-2011 school year received an overall grade of A.” “P.S. 138 [is] an existing zoned school . . .” Educational Impact Statement, 9/20/12, p. 1 3 P.S./M.S. 138 is an “A” school too! •P.S./M.S. 138 has received a “A” rating on its DOE progress report for 5 of the the last 6 years –For 2011-2012, earned an “A” for Student Progress and Student Performance on state English and Math tests. –These achievements are rare in D17 and should be acknowledged and celebrated. 4 P.S./M.S. 138 puts all of the space in its building to good use. •The Building Utilization Plan acknowledges that P.S./M.S. 138 uses all of the space in the building. (p. 6) •The latest Quality Review Report for P.S. 138 (2007) noted: –“The principal uses resources very effectively to enhance student and staff learning.” –“There is abundant work on display in the both the classrooms and hallways which celebrates student achievement.” –“There is a strengthening broad curriculum to support the learning and development of the whole child.” 5 DOE states that the co-location “is not expected to impact current or future student enrollment or instructional programming” at our school while presenting a Building Utilization Plan that ignores how P.S./M.S. 138 students are actually taught. 6 •The Building Utilization Plan addresses elementary and middle school space standards generally and separately, never acknowledging that P.S./M.S. 138 is a pre-K-8 school with a seamless & highly effective academic program. –“[S]chools serving grades K-5 receive an allocation of cluster or specialty classrooms proportionate to the number of students enrolled. These classrooms can be used at the principal’s discretion for purposes such as art and/or music instruction, among other things.” (p.2) •Assumes that P.S./M.S. 138 requires only 4 cluster rooms, based on anticipated enrollment in the 2013-2014 school year. (p. 2) –“For grades 6-12, the Footprint assumes that students move from class to class and that classrooms should be programmed at maximum efficiency. The Footprint does not require every teacher have his or her own designated classroom.” (p. 2) •Assumes that students in grades 6-8 are not taught in self-contained classrooms, but move from class to class. (p. 2) The DOE Plan Ignores P.S./M.S. 138’s academic program. 7 Classroom space is essential to P.S./M.S. 138’s academic program •Science labs for all grades allows hands-on learning (6 total) –2 labs equipped with permanent gas and working sinks are used by 7th and 8th grade classes for 5-10 periods per week –A third room has been equipped as a general science lab and is used by 6th graders for 5 periods per week •Microscopes, scales, smart board, computers, beakers, etc. –3 additional rooms have been equipped as science labs for use by pre-K-5th grade students •Younger students receive science instruction 3 times each week •Hands on experimentation supplements science reading and creates excellent outcomes for these students. •The equipment in these rooms is extensive and NOT PORTABLE!!!!! 8 Classroom space is essential to P.S./M.S. 138’s academic program •Our school has invested in 3 computer labs that serve all grades –Pre-K – 2 lab is equipped w/ 30 desktops. –3rd-5th grade lab is equipped with 30 desktops. –6th-8th grade lab is equipped with 20 desktops and 100 laptops. –All computer labs are hard-wired for internet access. –All computer labs include white boards and storage/security equipment. –These labs are essential to students’ academic pursuits and preparation for future work and civic participation. 9 •All 6th graders at P.S./M.S. 138 are taught in self-contained classrooms. They do not move from class to class. •7th and 8th graders teachers cover multiple subjects, so older students move minimally. •This programming for older students is essential to P.S./M.S. 138’s educational philosophy and success as a Pre-K-8 school. Classroom space is essential to P.S./M.S. 138’s academic program 10 The Building Utilization Plan would take away space that is essential to our instructional program, harming current and future students. 11 II. The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions 12 The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions •Lab space already described is not acknowledged. –DOE only recognizes the 2 hard wired science labs and mentions no others. •A permanent, stepped music room is never described as such. Instead, it’s counted as a regular classroom. –This room is only appropriate for music instruction. 13 The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions •States that cafeteria capacity is 570 when posted signs indicate that the capacity is 300. •The plan for shared cafeteria use assumes that P.S./M.S. 138 can complete it’s lunch service by 1:10 PM. –The focus on cafeteria capacity ignores real limits on the length of time it takes to serve students. –Lunch periods are currently 50 minutes, allowing students sufficient time to be served, eat and have recreation in the school yards or gym. 14 The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions •Cutting lunch to 40 minutes is unrealistic: –Because service time cannot be reduced, children would have less time to eat & play. This is especially problematic for the youngest students, who eat slowly. –Teachers and para-professionals are contractually mandated to have a 50 minute lunch. Cutting student lunches would create an impossible coverage situation. 15 The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions •School yards are referred to, but not addressed. –“Cafeteria and Outdoor Play Yard” section on p. 15 does not deal with the school yards at all. •P.S./M.S. 138 relies on its yards to relieve cafeteria crowding and give children needed physical activity during the school day. –Some classes play, then eat. Others eat, then play. •A cafeteria plan that does not address the yards is fatally flawed. 16 The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions •Inaccurately describes the space and activities of the Medgar Evers College Beacon program –“Beacon, a community-based organization occupies one full-size [administrative] space” (p. 2) –“The DOE notes that shared spaces* are not currently allocated for after-school programs.” (p. 16) •* The building utilization plan uses the term “shared spaces” to refer to P.S./M.S. 138’s gym, cafeteria, library and auditorium. 17 The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions This is inaccurate! •The Medgar Evers College Beacon program is in constant operation at P.S./M.S. 138 during non-school hours. –DOE is well aware of this, noting in another document that “K138 houses the Medgar Evers College Beacon program, a non-profit community-based organization, which partners with the P.S. 138 school community, neighborhood residents, businesses, and other community-based organizations to provide after-school programs that incorporate a wide variety of activities. These activities include homework help, academic enrichment, conflict remediation/resolution, community service, project-based clubs, as well as educational, recreational, and cultural activities.” •The Beacon uses the gym, cafeteria and auditorium from 3-6 PM on school days to deliver services to 400-500 members of the school community. •The Beacon uses 2 offices within the school: –1 administrative, 1 for adult education 18 The Building Utilization Plan is Full of Inaccuracies and Omissions •In addition to pretending the Beacon’s afterschool programming does not exist, the plan contemplates Success Academy using the building until 4:45 PM, well into the Beacon’s existing time. •Any plan that begins by ignoring this vital resource and would undermine it’s continuance is fatally flawed. 19 III. The proposed co-location of Success Academy charter school recreates overcrowding that existed during the recent co-location of Explore Empower Charter School (EECS) in our building. 20 The History of EECS & Overcrowding at P.S./M.S. 138 •DOE has already forced one co-location on our school. –Explore Empower Charter School (EECS) moved into P.S./M.S. 138’s building September 2009 –Besides showing disrespect for the public school students & staff: •EECS’s morning assemblies included loud chanting of “We are charter! We are better!” that was audible to P.S./M.S. 138 students 21 The History of EECS & Overcrowding at P.S./M.S. 138 •It quickly became clear that there was not enough room for both schools to operate in the same building. –Lunch room crowding –Interference with P.S./M.S. 138’s ability to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities –Problem evacuating building during fire drills •Went from under 5 minutes to nearly 15 minutes. –Overcrowding in school nurse’s office. 22 The History of EECS & Overcrowding at P.S./M.S. 138 •By early 2010, DOE had determined that that EECS had to be relocated because the building was overcrowded. –“The move of Explore Empower will relieve overcrowding in the K138 building . . .” (Educational Impact Statement: Co-location of Explore Empower Charter School (84K742) and M.S. 394 in School Building K210, 1/8/10) –“The move will alleviate overcrowding in the K138 building. At present, that building is home to Explore Empower along with P.S. 138. These schools have a combined enrollment of 1,098, which represents 78 percent of the building’s target capacity of 1,409 students. Explore Empower currently serves 156 students in grades K-2, and K138 does not have the capacity to absorb the approximately 244 additional students projected to enroll in Explore Empower as it grows to its full scale serving students in grades K-8.” (Summary of Proposal, 2/24/10) 23 The History of EECS & Overcrowding at P.S./M.S. 138 •Insufficient capacity in P.S./M.S. 138’s building was cited as part of the rationale for relocating EECS in the Panel for Educational Policy’s (PEP) resolution. –“WHEREAS, the co-location of Explore Empower Charter School and M.S. 394K in school building K210 is necessary to relieve overcrowding in the K138 school building where Explore Empower Charter School is currently located, to enable Explore Empower Charter School to continue to add one grade per year until it reaches its full grade scale . . .” (Resolution Regarding Approval of the Proposed Co-location of Explore Empower Charter School and M.S. 394K in School Building K210, 2/24/10, p. 2) •And the PEP voted to relocate EECS to another D17 building. 24 The History of EECS & Overcrowding at P.S./M.S. 138 •Combined population of the building during EECS’s tenure was 1098. •In 2010, 1098 = overcrowded. •In 2010, 1098 = no room for charter to grow •The current co-location proposal would return the building to this overcrowded state. Why replicate chaos & failure??? 25 IV. Actual Building Capacity vs. DOE “Target Capacity” 26 Actual Building Capacity vs. DOE “Target Capacity” •In 2010, the DOE acknowledged that P.S./M.S. 138’s building was overcrowded with 1098 students from the public school and a co-located charter. •Today, they present a new co-location plan that argues that the building’s target capacity is 1468. •If the plan is accepted, the population of the building will exceed 2010 levels by 2015 and grow to as much as 1370 by 2017-2018. 27 Actual Building Capacity vs. DOE “Target Capacity” •“Target capacity” is a DOE fiction, used as needed to justify co-location proposals. •“Target capacity” can be infinitely manipulated, based on DOE’s willingness to reprogram the use of spaces & change the grades served within a building. –Less pre-K . higher “target capacity.” –Changing office space to classroom space . “target capacity.” 28 Actual Building Capacity vs. DOE “Target Capacity” •We understand the building’s actual capacity because of on-the-ground experience over years. •We do not believe that our students should be squeezed into every available space in a building, regardless of that space’s intended purpose or current use. •There are REAL limits on what our school building can accommodate, based on classroom distribution, needs for common space and safety. 29 V. The Unstated Plan is to Suck Resources from P.S./M.S. 138 So That It Shrinks as SACS Rapidly Grows. We Reject This Plan. 30 Shrinking P.S./M.S. 138 to Grow SACS Population •The DOE’s proposal contemplates P.S./M.S. 138’s population shrinking from 811 to as little as 724 during 5 years of co-location. •SACS’s population is expected to grow from 0 to as much as 556. 31 Shrinking P.S./M.S. 138 to Grow SACS Space •P.S./M.S. 138 will be squeezed into less and less space as the co-location proceeds –Year 1: Lose 15.25 classrooms & 1 office –Year 2: Lose 2.5 additional classrooms –Year 3: Lose 3.25 additional classrooms –Year 4: Lose .75 additional classrooms _________________________________________ 21.75 rooms = 1/3 of the school! Unfair! Unequitable! 32 P.S./M.S. 138 Has a Plan for Growth •The plan was to grow P.S./M.S. 138 –“The space made available in K138 will be used to serve additional Pre-Kindergarten-8 grade students at P.S. 138.” (Educational Impact Statement: Co-location of Explore Empower Charter School (84K742) and M.S. 394 in School Building K210, 1/8/10) •Our building cannot accommodate another school but our school can accommodate additional students. 33 P.S./M.S. 138 Has a Plan for Growth •DOE should invest in maximizing the reach and impact of P.S./M.S. 138. –D17 has an identified need for additional Pre-K slots. –P.S./M.S. 138 previously had 4 Pre-K classes but was cut to 3. –Rather than force in an additional school, raise the pre-K cap and allow P.S./M.S. 138 to meet this need! 34 P.S./M.S. 138 is a shining star. We ask that the DOE respect our input, experience and perspective and the school’s success and withdraw the flawed proposal to co-locate SACS in our building. Respectfully submitted, By the School Leadership Team of P.S./M.S. 138 35