Opponents Of 'Cobble Hill Success Academy' Urge Others To Join Fight For Public Education

Emotions are running high in regards to the latest school controversy in the neighborhood.
It all started when it was announced that the Board Of Education was planning on allowing Eva Moskowitz of Success Academy Network to open a charter school in the Cobble Hill/Boerum Hill neighborhood. The new 'Cobble Hill Success Academy' is to occupy space in the School for Global Studies and School for International Studies building at 293 - 284 Baltic Street.
The co-location caused outcry amongst community parents who don't want more charter schools. Instead , they want resources to go to strengthening and improving public schools. On a recently created Facebook page, they write:

Our community resources should go towards the educational needs of children in our community. Cobble Hill Success Academy, a charter school, will accept students from across the city, not just our district which will add to the issue of overcrowding in our schools rather than addressing it. Cobble Hill Success Academy also will not include Pre-K programs that our community needs.
In addition to bringing in kids from outside of the district/neighborhood, the Success Academy would only contribute $1/ year to the upkeep of our school building leaving an unfair burden on our neighborhood schools. That's not right."

Assemblywoman Joan Millman and Former Deputy Schools Chancellor (and former PS 29 teacher) Carmen Farina have gotten involved by putting together a proposal for a public early childhood center in the Global Studies building. The center would provide pre-kindergarten and kindergarten slots for children in the local school zone. The alternative plan is gaining support amongst parents.There is a public hearing on the matter on:
Tuesday November 29th at 5:30 PM 284 Baltic Street (between Court and Smith Street)


And below is a press release from Assemblywoman Joan Millman:

Millman Rallies Against Charter School

Community Demands Early Childhood in Cobble Hill

Brooklyn - Today, Assemblywoman Joan L. Millman joined parents, education leaders & elected officials to speak out against the Department of Education proposal to create a Charter school within P.S. 293, in Cobble Hill. Parents, community leaders and educators have stated that they need a public Early Childhood Center for the growing number of young families in the district.

 Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Charter Success Network, after making proposals for Districts 13 and 14 announced that her organization wanted to expand within the school building in District 15 to open a Charter school for elementary children. Under her plan, the Cobble Hill School— which is home to Brooklyn School for Global Studies, and the School for International Studies and a District 75 program — would house a new elementary school. 

 Ms. Millman said she objected to the charter school proposal because it could impede the growth of the existing schools in the building. For example; The Brooklyn School for Global Studies is undergoing a federal school improvement plan that, Ms. Millman and other hope, it will increase student achievement and thus increase enrollment.

“The neighborhood elementary schools are high achieving and their prekindergarten and kindergarten classes are overcrowded with too many youngsters denied an opportunity for a quality prekindergarten and kindergarten experience. And because the Center would only serve children in two grades and would not expand, it would not threaten the growth of the existing schools.”