So this is unexpected: a vote to close Brooklyn's PS 114 was pulled off the agenda at a Panel for Education Policy meeting, much to the delight of parents and community members who had been fighting for its survival. Apparently state Senator John Sampson "negotiated" its remaining open with Deputy Schools Chancellor Marc Sternberg after learning that it was on the chopping block. One parent told the Daily News that the move is "the latest sign that the grass-roots movement to give parents a greater role in determining education policy in New York is gaining momentum."
Former Principal Maria Peña-Herrara left the school $180,000 in debt and with terrible test scores when she was removed in 2009, but the DOE had called for the school's closure. One parent told ABC 7, "They took too long to get rid of her, and she ran up a debt. And it just snowballed, and now we're on the failing list, and it's just not true." Last year student performance at the school earned them an F in their progress report, and they got a D overall. But Schools Chancellor Cathie Black said, "They believe they really can turn it around, so we will extend it for another year plus and see if they really can."
Student Q-tiye Clarke told NY1, "I feel really happy because my school isn't closing. I love this school." The city will still move forward with plans to open a charter school within the same building, because we know how well schools-inside-schools work.
