Letter to Chancellor Klein

Joel Klein, School Chancellor
52 Chambers Street
New York, N.Y. 10007


Dear Chancellor Klein:

I am certain that you would not dispute that a strong, structured and consistent educational foundation plays an important role in fostering academic success. Middle school is a time when students are going through major life changes; transitioning from childhood into their early teens. This is a time when decisions will be made that not only affect their academic careers, but their entire future. It is therefore, especially important for students to be academically challenged, by teachers and administrators who have high expectations of them, nurtured and given space to grow and feel safe.

Philippa Schuyler has already suffered two major blows that make it extremely challenging to maintain a stable, achievement oriented environment. The students were severely traumatized earlier in the academic year when an alternative school for students having multiple suspensions was placed inside Philippa Schuyler without the knowledge or input of the parents. Two I.S. 383 students were assaulted by the students of the alternative program and hospitalized. The result was far worse than the physical damage the victims received. It fostered an environment of fear and uneasiness amongst all of the students who have worked hard to go to a school they believed to be free of such dangers. The second major blow is the gargantuan budget cut of one hundred six thousand three hundred forty four dollars ($106,344.00) that Schuyler will incur which makes it extremely difficult to finance an already tightly budgeted specialized program.

The Department of Education has agreed to remove the alternative to suspension school for which we are grateful; however in its place we are being pressed to accept more than four hundred students and staff from Achievement First Bushwick Charter School. We believe that our now fragile program, which has already suffered enough disruption and disorder, could not survive another severe blow and remain the safe, fun, high achieving program that it has been for the past three decades. For this reason, we ask you to use your influence to persuade the NYC Department of Education not to place Achievement First Charter School inside of I.S. 383, Philippa Schuyler Middle School.

Understanding that Achievement First Bushwick Charter School does need a place to establish itself, we suggest that the Department of Education’s district office located on 797 Bushwick Avenue would be a suitable alternative. This will create a win-win situation as we believe that Philippa Schuyler as well as Achievement First deserves to succeed. The plan to co-locate these two schools does not serve the best interest of either school.

Thank you.


Respectfully Yours,