Phase-Out For Rockaway School Will Start In 2009

Public school teacher Patricia Asbury (left) makes her case for the preservation of P.S. 225's Reading First program, which may be tossed by the wayside during the school's phase-out in 2009. An elementary school teacher's effort to highlight the positive aspects of a failing school was applauded by education advocates, parents and teachers alike at the Dec. 15 Community Education Council District 27 meeting held in Rockaway Park.

Patricia Asbury spoke to those in attendance at the P.S. 225 auditorium, advocating the preservation of the school's Reading First program in light of the Department of Education's decision to phase out the location starting in June 2009.

In place of the current Pre-K-to- 8 site, an elementary school will reportedly open in the same building, initially serving pre-kindergarten through third-grade students and expanding one grade per year.

A middle school will also be added, initially serving sixth-grade students and expanding one grade per year.

"Next year's third-grade class will have had three full years of the program, which federal, state, city and private sector evaluators have praised us for," said the 22-year educator.

The school's overall poor performance, she added, isn't reflective of the success of Reading First.

She further made a case for retaining enough Spanish-speaking staff members to assist the school's ESL (English as a Second Language) population, as well as to speak directly to non-native parents.

The institution of Academic Intervention Services (a program offering additional instructional strategies to help students struggling academically and/or behaviorally) for first-and second-grade classes "on a consistent basis" was also first and foremost in her thoughts.

She cited the fact that early intervention would lessen the need for these services later on in a child's development.

"We need our name on that listing of special-program schools to keep all of our children here," stated Asbury.

She went on to advise CEC 27 of an improved "proactive" disciplinary plan for the school that would teach children how to help their classmates get out of trouble rather than "going to each other for the plain hell of escalating it."

On the topic of special-needs pupils, Asbury called for the assignment of separate personnel administrators in lieu of being overly dependent on principals and assistant principals, who may end up running the risk of "separating themselves from mainstream students."

CEC 27 President Andrew Baumann seconded Asbury's views on the importance of special-needs students by touching upon the absence of a special-education class in P.S. 225's fifth-grade class.

The Lindenwood resident pointed out that if the current fifthgraders decide to stay, P.S. 225's middle school won't necessitate any special-education services.

Baumann proposed that the school look into a two-year phase-in of special education to accommodate current fourth-grade specialeducation students, who may choose to attend the newlyreopened Seaside school.

DOE Deputy Director of Human Services Robert Restivo briefly addressed the matter, by telling the audience that the Rockaways' fluid population may cause his agency to modify its plans. Restivo did assure the school community that all qualified senior teachers would remain.

CEC 27 Board member David Hooks stated his position of allowing parents to participate in the decision making process for the new school.

"When the DOE walks into the building," he told Restivo, "you should sit down and have disclosure. You should tell them how the building will be."

Resolutions

Hooks' comments tied in with the Council's proposed resolution calling for a smooth transition whenever there's an interruption or change in schools due to new leadership, restructuring or school closure.

CEC 27 unanimously agreed that any discussions or decisions on school restructuring be made at public meetings held in the affected schools.

Council members stressed that the DOE provide the necessary transparency and information to the community and parents most impacted by any restructuring process.

In a second proposed resolution, CEC 27 unanimously endorsed that the DOE adopt the practice of avoiding the usage of acronyms when referring to plans, programs, councils, committees, agencies, offices and tests.

In what began as a harmless attempt to shorten names, according to the group, acronyms often confuse parents and non-Englishspeaking community members.

The following CEC 27 meeting is scheduled to take place on Monday, Jan. 20 at P.S. 306, located at 95-16 89th Ave. For further details, call 1-718-642-5805.