Brooklyn Electeds Statement on Ps 8 School Zone Overcrowding

BROOKLYN – Today, State Senator Squadron, Councilmember Levin, and Assemblymember Simon released the following joint statement regarding PS 8 school zone overcrowding:

"Last year we worked with the community to urge the Department of Education to engage on the issue of overcrowding at PS 8, so that together we could plan for the future and avoid a real crisis for neighborhood families. Unfortunately, DOE did not respond to the repeated warnings and calls for action all of us made, both privately and publicly. This week, zoned, eligible families are receiving last minute rejections from PS 8, and DOE has no plan in place to fix the problem going forward.

We want to work closely with them so this situation does not repeat itself. Both PS 8 and PS 307 are great schools. Unfortunately, PS 307 has been put in the position of navigating for dozens of justifiably frustrated parents who have been caught off guard. Better planning by the DOE might have created a process for parents to understand, and feel comfortable with, all of their school options. We believe that far more transparency was needed and that this has created unnecessary division between current and prospective parents. In addition, DOE’s approach has thus far failed to engage the long-term challenge of finding more seats for schools in an area booming with children; this lack of planning will only exacerbate the current crisis and affect more families in the future.

DOE's failure to anticipate, plan, and communicate effectively is very troubling. We are committed to working with Principal Phillips, Principal Davenport, educators and families at both schools to address this situation, and to achieve an appropriate and positive outcome for every family at both schools as best we can.

We urge the Administration in the strongest possible terms to take on real, comprehensive school planning, both locally and citywide."