Dear Editor,
I am writing you as a concerned parent of a sixth-grader at M.S. 226. When I chose M.S. 226 as my daughter’s middle school, I did so under the impression that my child would be free from the peer pressure of older high school students.
This decision was consciously made, as the vast majority of my middle school options were six-through-12 schools. I recently learned that Mayor Michael Bloomberg and his Panel for Educational Policy plan to place a high school within the M.S. 226 building. This is very problematic, because the school currently shares space with Hawtree Creek Middle School and P.S. 233.
This evening, I attended a Parents Association meeting at M.S. 226 and learned that the parents of Hawtree Creek Middle School did not have a chance to meet with Dean Guzman, the associate director of planning at the Department of Education, or attend an information session regarding this colocation. It appears that Bloomberg and his panel are trying to sneak this high school in. Please look into this story and inform the community on the various colocations throughout the southeast Queens community.
There will be a proposal hearing regarding the high school colocation on Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at M.S. 226, 121-10 Rockaway Blvd., Queens. There will also be a proposal hearing at August Martin High School on Oct. 3 at 6 p.m. regarding the colocation of Success Academy Charter School with formerly incarcerated adolescents.
Thank you for your time and attention; your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Tykia Moore
