Satellite Fights DOE Move to Increase Floor Capacity

This story is about how the DOE allegedly increased the building capacity (number of seats) from 295 seats to 432 seats in one year (with no new construction or change of rooms).

News 12 Report

The DOE responded by saying that the Bronx Regional Building is at 67% capacity--BUT we are calling for an INVESTIGATION of this capacity rate. 

Here's why:

• In 2009 the 5th floor capacity was 295 seats.
• In 2010 the 5th floor capacity was changed by the DOE to 432 seats.
• This is a 46% increase in capacity.

What accounts for this change?

Interestingly, ROADS II charter school application was presented to SUNY around the same time in 2010. The ROADS school application was initially sent by Cami Anderson, who worked in the SAME BRONX REGIONAL BUILDING (the proposal was sent back to the drawing board 2 times because of Conflict of Interest).

Further, the DOE co-location proposal requires that the 5th floor give the new charter school 46% of the 5th floor.....exactly the same amount of increase that occurred in 2010 when ROADS II application was filed.

You do the math.

http://www.news12.com/articleDetail.jsp?articleId=312032&position=1&news_type=news

(03/19/12) THE BRONX - The Schomburg Satellite School is fighting a Department of Education (DOE) plan to put a second school in the building floor it already occupies.

The DOE wants to put the second school on the fourth and fifth floors, adding 250 students to the building.

Schomburg officials say that the plan would put the floors at 121-percent capacity and the DOE isn't planning of adding additional classrooms or teachers.

The DOE is expected to vote on the issue Wednesday.

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DOE DRASTICALLY INCREASES BUILDING CAPACITY TO MAKE ROOM FOR INCOMING CHARTER SCHOOL?

March 17, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT

Dirk Peters

Better Bronx Schools

betterbronxschools@gmail.com

347-450-9853

DOE DRASTICALLY INCREASES BUILDING CAPACITY TO MAKE ROOM FOR INCOMING CHARTER SCHOOL?

At 3:30 p.m. on March 19, teachers and students of Schomburg Satellite Academy will hold a press conference to announce their recent findings that the Department of Education drastically increased the building’s student capacity. These figures, which increased by 47.5% in a single year, will allow “room” for the DOE to add a new charter school to the building, despite strong opposition by parents, students, and teachers. The charter school, ROADS II, is proposed to open in September of 2012. 

Monday’s press conference comes in advance of Wednesday's highly-anticipated PEP vote on the co-location of ROADS II with Schomburg Satellite Academy and Bronx Regional High School. The dramatic changes in building's operational capacity were uncovered after the DOE announced plans to add a charter school to the building. The drastic increase in capacity, from 295 students to 432 students, gives new weight to on-going protests by parents and students that the DOE plan would lead to severe over-crowding in the building. Local representatives including State Senator Ruben Diaz, State Assemblyman Eric Stevenson, and City Councilmember Maria del Carmen Arroyo have all expressed their opposition to the plan. 

At Monday’s press conference, teachers and students will call for an investigation into the DOE’s calculation of the building’s capacity, and for a delay of Wednesday’s PEP vote until the results of the investigation can be reviewed. According the DOE plan, enrollment at Satellite would remain constant, but the number of classrooms at would be reduced by half, with the remaining space designated to ROADS II. 

What: 

Press conference demanding investigation into the DOE's radical student capacity increases, and a delay to Wednesday’s PEP vote on co-location

Who:

Schomburg Satellite Academy students, teachers, and parents

Where: 

1010 Rev. James A. Polite Ave, in the community garden, across the street from the main entrance to the school 

When: 

3:30 p.m.

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING: MARCH 12

SATA-WHAT? 

SATELLITE Joint Public Hearing

When: March 12 at 6:00pm (come early to sign up at 5:30)

Where: Bronx Regional Building, 1010 Rev. James Polite Ave, Bronx, NY 10459

(Photo Credit: Patrick Wall, DNAinfo.com)

• What: Share your comments about the proposal to add a fourth school to the Bronx Regional Building.
• How: prepare a comment, letter or 2 minute statement to read or submit to the Department of Education (we will have a presentation and information if you are unsure of what you want to say)
• Bring: parents, guardians, grandparents, aunties and uncles, students, siblings, neighbors, friends, pastors, counselors, and anyone who is interested in the future of Satellite Academy, Bronx Regional and the state of their community schools

How will co-location impact your school? 

How has our community been involved in this discussion?

What do you want the Department of Education to hear? 

Speak out on March 12 @6pm!

 

Get your voice heard! 

(Photo Credit: Patrick Wall, DNAinfo.com)

Photos from:

Bronx Students Walk Out of Class to Protest Charter Co-Location Plan  

Read more: http://www.dnainfo.com/20120309/south-bronx/bronx-students-walk-out-of-class-protest-charter-co-location-plan#ixzz1om9zz289