PS 282 - We must continue to make our voice heard!
Reader comment on: ‘Screaming and Crying' Greet Arab School Plan

Submitted by Sean & Paulette James, Mar 15, 2007 13:31

As parents of a kindergarten student at PS 282, the proposed site of the Khalil Gibran International Academy, we are writing to share our concerns about the NYC Department of Education's plan. It is commendable that in a world where we suffer from a wealth of intolerance that there are concerted efforts being made to put forth global citizens through our public school educational system.

With that said, the plan to house this middle school/high school which will begin with 81 students in the fall of 2007 but which will ultimately become 500-600 students ranging in age from 11-21 (as all NYC Public high school students have the right to remain in school until they turn 21) in a building with children ranging in age from 4-10 years of age was not well thought-through and in all honesty shows an unparallel level of disregard for the needs and opinions of the parents, children and administrators of PS 282.

There has been no consideration given to the current infra-structure of the school and how the introduction of this new school will affect the quality of our children's education. We are in jeopardy of losing many, if not all the things that makes this school so special. Our children enjoy a spacious and well maintained gymnasium, they have access to a fully functioning art room, a library, music room and an auditorium, in addition, for the many parents who like ourselves are working parents, we are able to house our children at PS 282 for after-school programs. All of these things and more, we are in jeopardy of losing as it has not been clearly explained to parents how two schools serving such diverse age populations will be able to provide optimal service to all students.

During the PTA meeting on Monday, March 12th where we were told about these plans, we were also told that the Khalil Gibran International Academy would only require 3 rooms for the 81 students who would begin their studies in the fall of 2007 and 1 office for their administrative staff. If we are to use the model presented to parents at the most recent PTA meeting, students in the Khalil Gibran Academy will only receive the most basic of services, as they will not have access to a school counselor, as that individual will require use of a separate office in order to meet with students. The principal will share the 1 allocated administrative office with her Assistant Principal(s) as well as the school secretary and any other relevant school administrators/staff. In addition, these students will not have access to music, art or to lab for science classes nor to after-school programs hosted at the school as they will have only been allocated the three rooms for classroom instruction. This model is not believable and seems to suggest that PS 282 students will have to sacrifice the current resources that parents and administrators have fought to introduce and retain in what has been, and continues to be a successful elementary school in order to meet the needs of this Academy's students.

What will our school ultimately be asked to sacrifice? How is this upheaval of our school of benefit to our children and to the community where the school currently resides? We are adamant in our refusal to host the Khalil Gibran International Academy within our walls. Our children, the youngest citizens, deserve access to the best educational opportunities and we will continue to make our voice heard in order to ensure that our daughter as well as the other 664 Pre-K to 5th grade students currently enrolled at PS 282 continue to retain the same level of access to this amazing school that children, parents, staff, administrators and community members have invested so much of their time and resources in ensuring remains a success.

Sean & Paulette James

PS 282 Parents

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