Advocacy Group Started to Prevent the Closure of MS 80 in the Bronx

Here is one more on education. It was sent by local activist Ms. Anthony Rivieccio. Were witnessing the greatest corporate takeover of public education in American History. If we don't wake up, pretty soon even our educators will earn Wal-Mart wages and teach from a script.

Gregory

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Last week, it was offical that Middle School 80 , 149 E Mosholu Parkway, is scheduled to be closed (as MS80) by June of 2012. MS80 is one of the 33 schools effected by not receiving federal, state & city educational grant "race to the top"money. THERE ARE LINK HISTORIES FOR YOUR INFORMATION BELOW.

Also below is the offical Department of Education Copy of the proposed Closing of MS80

Since then some Bedford Park @ Norwood Residents have created "Friends of MS80"-to assist in promoting the advocacy of attending the public hearing

We beg for your highest consideration with our attached news release & material below.

Again, thank you for any effort or media consideration that you can provide in attempting to keep an almost 90 year school, still in community existence.

Anthony Rivieccio

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Notice

March 5, 2012

Dennis M. Walcott
Chancellor

The Proposed Closure of J.H.S. 80 Mosholu Parkway (10X080) and Opening and Co-Location of New School (10X575) with P.S./M.S. 280 Mosholu Parkway (10X280) in Building X080 Beginning in 2012-2013

I. Description of the subject and purpose of the proposed item under consideration.

The New York City Department of Education (“DOE”) is proposing to close J.H.S. 80 Mosholu Parkway (10X080, “J.H.S. 80”), an existing district middle school located in building X080 (“X080”), and in X910, transportable classroom units, located at

149 East Mosholu Parkway, Bronx, NY 10467, in Community School District 10. It currently serves students in grades six through eight. The DOE is proposing to immediately replace J.H.S. 80 with New School (10X575, “New School”), a new district middle school serving students in grades six through eight in building X080.

If this proposal is approved, J.H.S. 80 will close at the conclusion of the 2011-2012 school year. All current students who have not graduated before the start of the 2012-2013 school year will be guaranteed a seat and automatically enrolled in New School.

J.H.S. 80 Mosholu Parkway is co-located in X080 with P.S./M.S. 280 Mosholu Parkway (10X280, “P.S./M.S. 280”), an existing district K-8 school that currently serves students in kindergarten through eighth grades. A “co-location” means that two or more school organizations are located in the same building and may share common spaces like auditoriums, gymnasiums, and cafeterias.

J.H.S. 80 admits students using a zoned admissions process; however, students residing in the X080 zone may also participate in the Districts 9 and 10 Middle School Choice Process. P.S./M.S. 280 also admits students residing in its zone. Additional information about the Districts 9 and 10 Middle School Choice Process is contained in Sections III of this proposal.

The DOE strives to ensure that all students in New York City have access to a high-quality school at every stage of their education. By closing J.H.S. 80 and replacing it with New School, the DOE is seeking to expeditiously improve educational quality in X080. If this proposal is approved, New School will develop rigorous, school-specific competencies to measure and screen prospective staff – including J.H.S. 80 staff who apply to work at New School. Based on these criteria, and in accordance with the staffing requirements in Article 18-D of the DOE’s existing contract with the United Federation of Teachers (“UFT”), New School will put in place a process aimed at hiring the best possible staff, thus immediately improving teacher quality and, by extension, improving the quality of learning. New School plans to develop new programs and school supports that are intended to improve student outcomes. Doing this important work to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the school, DOE also will maximize New School’s chance of receiving up to $900,000 in each of the next two years (for a total of $1,800,000 over both years) in supplemental federal funding under the federal School Improvement Grant (“SIG”) program. New School will build on the strongest elements of J.H.S. 80 and incorporate new elements, including new talent designed to better meet student needs. Thus, the immediate closure and replacement of J.H.S. 80 with New School should give students access to a higher-quality educational option while they continue to attend school in the same building.

II. Information regarding where the full text of the proposed item may be obtained.

The Educational Impact Statement (“EIS”) can be found on the Department of Education’s Web site: http://schools.nyc.gov/AboutUs/leadership/PEP/publicnotice/2011-2012/April2012Proposals.

Copies of the EIS are also available in the main offices of J.H.S. 80 Mosholu Parkway and P.S./M.S. 280 Mosholu Parkway.

III. Submission of public comment.

Written comments can be sent to D10Proposals@schools.nyc.gov

Oral comments can be left at 212-374-5159 .

IV. The name, office, address, email and telephone number of the city district representative, knowledgeable on the item under consideration, from whom information may be obtained concerning the item.

Name: Elaine Gorman

Office: Division of Portfolio Planning

Address:

52 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007Email: D10Proposals@schools.nyc.govPhone:

212-374-5159

V. Date, time and place of joint public hearings for this proposal.


April 16, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.

J.H.S. 80 Mosholu Parkway

149 East Mosholu Parkway

Bronx, NY 10467



Questions about the proposal should be directed as indicated in section IV above.


Speaker sign-up will begin 30 minutes before the hearing and will close 15 minutes after the start.

VI. Date, time and place of the Panel for Educational Policy meeting at which the Panel will vote on the proposed item.


April 26, 2012 at 6:00 P.M.

Prospect Heights Campus

883 Classon Ave

Brooklyn, NY 11225

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Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Invites Elected Officials, Community Education, Community Leaders and Parents, to a conversation on school turnarounds. Guest Speaker: Elaine Gorman, Chief Executive, Turnaround Program, Department of Education. Share your vision for the future of your schools – your input matters. The meeting will take place on Thursday, March 15, 2012 @6:00 PM at the Morris Educational Campus Auditorium, 1110 Boston Road, Bronx, NY 10456.

List of schools that will be affected by the turnaround initiative:

DBN

School Name

Hearing Date/Time

Community Boards

07x600

Alfred E Smith Career- Tech HS

4/16@6pm CB1

08x405

Herbert Lehman HS

4/2@6pm CB9

08x530

Banana Kelly HS

4/4@6pm CB2

09x022

JHS 22 Jordan L. Mott

4/3@6pm CB4

09x339

IS 339

4/5@6pm CB4

09x412

Bronx HS of Business

4/12@6pm CB4

10x080

JHS 80 Mosholu Parkway

4/16@6pm CB7

10x391

MS 391

4/4@6pm CB5

10x438

Fordham Leadership Academy

3/30@6pm CB6

11x142

JHS 142 John Philip Sousa

4/19@6pm CB12


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http://gothamschools.org/2012/03/06/with-turnaround-plans-detailed-city-turns-attention-to-hearings/



http://www.nytimes.com/schoolbook/2012/02/28/city-pushes-ahead-on-plan-to-close-then-reopen-33-schools/

http://edvox.org/

http://gothamschools.org/2012/02/28/for-opponents-of-mayoral-control-fight-starts-with-co-locations/

HOUSE OF WORSHIP TAKES IT TO THE STREETS

Here is more on evicting perfectly good tenants that help their communities and put a few extra dollars into the coffers for Bronx pubic schools.

Gregory

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WHO: Council Member Fernando Cabrera, Pastor Salvador Sabino & other Affected Religious Leaders

WHAT: Houses of worship that did not receive cancellation notices from the Department of Education plan to meet in schools today and one homeless Manhattan church will meet on a sidewalk.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 18, 2012, 5:00PM -6:30PM

WHERE: Front sidewalk of IS 52 (South of 204 St. in Northern Manhattan), 650 Academy Street, New York, NY 10034

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NEW YORK — On Thursday, Bronx Household of Faith’s attorneys won a temporary restraining order that would allow houses of worship to continue meeting for worship services in New York City public schools for the time being. Late Friday evening, the district court order was tempered by the 2nd Circuit and will apply only to the Bronx Household of Faith. While some houses of worship were notified their permits were revoked, others were not. Many still plan on meeting inside schools later today.

One house of worship that was denied a permit will be taking its worship services to the streets today at 5:00PM, right outside of the school where they met each Sunday. Heavenly Vision Christian Center lead by Pastor Salvador Sabino will be holding an outdoor service with music and congregants, some of whom were formerly in gangs or incarcerated, will be sharing their stories.

"I understand what these small houses of worship are doing," said Council Member Fernando Cabrera, "They have nowhere to go now. What is better, having religious groups out on sidewalks and inside parks, or having them pay the City to meet inside empty school buildings? This policy is simply ridiculous. Albany must act."

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LAST DAY FOR HOUSES OF WORSHIP IN SCHOOLS, UPDATES

Even though thousands of ordinary citizens protested in support of schools renting to houses of worship, it looks as if their eviction is imminent due to the wishes of Bloomberg and DOE Chancellor Walcott. Despotism is alive and well in NYC. Does anyone needs any additional proof that Chancellor Walcott’s hand on prayer session on Palm Sunday, after his appointed as Chancellor, was nothing more than a public relation stunt to fool the natives?

Have any incidents been reported were houses of worships abused their option to rent space in public schools? Do any of these houses of worship conduct social services that the fat cats at the DOE want to take over and profit from? Should we expect to see Walcott or maybe even Eve Moskowitz on the ballot for Mayor to continue the privatization of the NYC school system for the profit of large corporations after Bloomberg is gone?

I personally consider this decision against the voices of the community and elected officials representing the communities most affected by this decision, an insult to our democratic system.

At the very least we are throwing our at risk youth into the hands of gangs. Once the gangs are done praying on them, will hand them over to our shelter or prison system for a new round of fat contracts to make sure society is further weighed down with more taxes and more debt. Let our youth hear the Ten Commandments. Let them have positive role models. We should be helping them make the right decision when confronted with the opportunity to make the wrong one.

I hope the public remembers next election day!

Gregory

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Mayor Bloomberg Education Policy will Evict Houses of Worship this Sunday, February 12, 2012

WHO: Council Member Fernando Cabrera

WHAT: Update on the eviction of houses of worship wishing to rent empty spaces in public schools

WHEN: February 10, 2012

WHERE: New York, NY

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NEW YORK, NY — Following a June decision by the 2^nd Circuit Federal Court of Appeals to grant the New York City Department of Education (DOE) discretion in excluding houses of worship from renting empty spaces in New York City school buildings, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Chancellor Dennis Walcott have decided to enforce a policy that will evict houses of worship tomorrow.

After the announcement of the eviction, Council Member Cabrera and religious leaders from across the City began to mobilize. Numerous protests and demonstrations have taken place, including some where City Council Member Cabrera along with pastors and congregants have been arrested. Proponents of the City’s policy, including the New York Civil Liberties Union, have argued that renting to houses of worship violates the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution, and that the 2^nd Circuit’s ruling mandates the New York City eviction. Religious leaders and congregants battling the policy argue that enforcement of this policy is discriminatory and that only a misreading of the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution would lead one to believe that renting spaces in public schools is in violation of the Establishment Clause.

“The writers of our Constitution wrote the Establishment Clause into the First Amendment for a reason,” said Council Member Cabrera. “I respect that. We all respect that. But allowing houses of worship to meet and conduct activities central to their purpose, is not establishing religion.” He continued, “Accommodation is not establishment, and the 2^nd Circuit’s ruling last June also didn’t say this eviction was necessary. The 2^nd Circuit simply said the DOE could use its discretion in renting to religious groups.” He continued, “If the City allowed a Catholic Pope to host prayer in Central Park, would the City be accused of establishing religion? Of course not.”

Moreover, this policy primarily hurts low-income, minority communities. “It is claimed these small houses of worship are recruiting and evangelizing impressionable children. Yet, the schools are rented only when they are empty. The houses of worship use the spaces when classes are not in session. But even so, what more recruitment and evangelization than what gangs do in the neighborhoods these small houses of worship serve? ” Council Member Cabrera said referring to those houses of worship that meet in high-crime areas. “These small houses of worship have changed crime trends in entire communities.”

Resolution 1155, which urges the State Legislature and Governor Cuomo to sign legislation that would disallow New York City’s ban on worship, has been introduced by Council Member Cabrera and heard in the City Council. However, despite having overwhelming support the resolution has not moved. Resolution 1155 refers to New York State Assembly bill A8800-A introduced by Assemblyman Nelson Castro (D-Bronx) and New York State Senate bill S6087-A introduced by Senator Martin Golden (R-Brooklyn). New York State Senate bill S6087-A passed on Monday (Feb. 6) with a bi-partisan vote of 55-7.

The fight to allow these 60 or so fledgling houses of worship to continue to rent from schools is reaching a critical stage.Reverend Pastor William Devlin, senior minister at Iglesia Biblica de Manhattan/Manhattan Bible Church, is on the 25^th day of a water-only fast. He began the fast at midnight January 17, 2012 and states that he will continue his hunger strike until Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott reverse their decision on evicting houses of worship from education buildings this Sunday. The eviction of churches in New York City has made international news and has been called "religious intolerance" and discrimination, because it strikes down equal access to those who help the poor communities the most.

Devlin stated, "The purpose of this water-only 40 day fast is to bring attention to the hard-heartedness of our Mayor and Chancellor. My fast is to ask God to soften the hearts of Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Walcott. The churches that these men are making homeless are the salt and light of the poor communities they serve.”

Many have publically supported the cause, including,

Elected Officials:

· Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

· New York City Comptroller John C. Liu

· 35 City Council Members who are signed-on to Resolution 1155

· 70 Co-Sponsors in the New York State Assembly who are signed-on to A8800-A

· 55 New York State Senators who voted in favor of S6087-A

Unions:

· Teamsters Joint Council No. 16 (Union)

Media Outlets:

· MSNBC’s Martin Bashir

· WMCA 570AM in New York City

Religious groups:

· International Center for Conservative Judaism

· New York Council of Churches

· Christ Tabernacle of Queens

· The Korean Council of Churches

“We are reaching a critical point,” said Council Member Cabrera “but the battle will go on far beyond February 12 if it needs to, court action included.”

THOUSANDS ATTENDED MASS MARCH ON BROOKLYN BRIDGE IN SUPPORT OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP

As shown in the photos posted below, this Sunday's rally was a full house. Kudos to all the organizers and participants who are making sure their voices are heard.

Gregory
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Discriminatory policy will evict Houses of Worship from Public Schools on Feb. 12^th, 2012

WHO: NYC Council Member Fernando Cabrera, City Religious Leaders, City Council Members, and Elected Officials

WHAT: Thousands attended mass march opposing Mayor Bloomberg's eviction of houses of worship from public schools
buildings

WHEN: Monday January 30, 2012

WHERE: New York, NY

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NEW YORK — Council Member Fernando Cabrera, elected officials and city religious leaders lead a mass march across the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday, Sunday, January 29^th, 2012. Marchers urged Mayor Bloomberg and the Department of Education (DOE) to reverse the discriminatory policy that will evict Houses of Worship from public schools on February 12^th.

The march began at Cadman Plaza, continued over the Brooklyn Bridge and ended in front of City Hall on Broadway. New York City Police Department Community Affairs personnel escorted the marchers throughout as marchers sang prayer songs and chanted motivational words.

“Communities turned out in mass to show their support,” said Council Member Cabrera “Black, White, Latino and Asian, young and old. Our momentum is growing.” He continued “Our constitution has an anti-establishment clause and we respect that, but it also has a free exercise clause. This policy restricts the right to free exercise by discriminating against religious groups. Our stance against this policy does not ask for special treatment, but for fair treatment.”

Marchers are also urged legislative action. The City Council should pass Resolution 1155 which calls upon the New York State legislature to pass and the Governor to sign legislation amending the New York State Education Law to afford houses of worship maximum access to school property. The State legislation includes NYS Assembly Bill A8800 and NYS Senate Bill S6087 that would amend NYS Education Law 414 to allow Houses of Worship to meet in schools regardless of the “worship” component of their activities.

Background:

After the Supreme Court declined to hear Bronx Household of Faith vs. New York City Department of Education on December 5^th, 2011, the New York City Department of Education announced it would ban Houses of Worship wishing to rent vacant spaces from Public Schools during non-school hours.

Following the announcement, Council Member Fernando Cabrera and Religious Leaders have organized several protests. These include a Prayerful Protest on Thursday January 5^th, where Council Member Fernando Cabrera, pastors and congregants were arrested for kneeling in front of the New York City Law Department in prayer during a display of civil disobedience, and a Prayer Rally during Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City address on Thursday January 12^th, where approximately 500 pastors and congregants gathered for prayer and song and over 40 were arrested while approaching the entrance of Morris High School in another display of civil disobedience. A press conference was also convened in front of the Tweed Court House on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, where 50 pastors, congregants and elected officials participated before marching to City Hall for the New York City Council Stated Meeting.

The January 29^th March on the Brooklyn Bridge was the largest planned demonstration to date.

Speakers: Elected Officials
Fernando Cabrera	New York City Council, 14th District	Bronx
Ruben Diaz Sr.	New York State Senate, 32nd District	Bronx
Marcos Crespo	New York State Assembly, 85th District	Bronx
Hakeem Jeffries	New York State Assembly, 57th District	Brooklyn
Ydanis Rodriguez	New York City Council, 10th District	Manhattan
Robert Jackson	New York City Council, 7th District	Manhattan
Jumaane Williams	New York City Council, 45th District	Brooklyn
Letitia James	New York City Council, 35th District	Brooklyn
Bill De Blasio	New York City Public Advocate	Citywide
John Liu	New York City Comptroller	Citywide

Speakers: Clergy
Pastor Bill Devlin - Co-Chair of Movement Steering Committee	Manhattan Bible Church	Manhattan
Pastor Rick del Rio (affected pastor)	Abounding Grace Ministries	Manhattan
Pastor Gabriel Salguero	National Latino Evangelical Coalition	Manhattan
Pastor Seungho Yang	Korean Council of Churches	Manhattan
Pastor Inhyun Ryu (affected pastor)	New Frontier Church	Manhattan
Minister Kirsten Foy	Office of the NYC Public Advocate	Manhattan
Pastor Dimas Salaberrios	Infinity New York Church	Bronx
Pastor Salvador Sabino (affected pastor)	Heavenly Vision	Bronx
Bishop Fernando Rodriguez	Latin/African American Chaplains Association	Bronx
Bishop Lillian Robinson –Wiltshire (affected pastor)	Cathedral of Christ Community Ministries	Brooklyn
Rev. Dr. Sheryl Anthony	Judah International Christian Center	Brooklyn

Councilman Fernando Cabrera has served the 14th Council District of the Bronx since January 2010 and as senior pastor for New Life Outreach International in the Bronx since 1988.