MarineParker.net

Sources tell GerritsenBeach.net that the Hebrew Language Academy has agreed NOT to use IS 278 as their temporary location. Details are still coming in, but sources claim that our own State Senator Marty Golden played “a significant role” in the negotiations with HLA, who are reportedly looking for an alternate location, possibly in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Brooklyn. Phone lines are lighting up all over Brooklyn, including mine! More news to come!

Complete Photo Gallery

“HLA Go Away” was pretty much the sentiment of last nights Department of Education public hearing. The hearing is to decided if The Hebrew Language Charter Academy will be housed in I.S. 278
(more…)

This is the whole meeting in its 80 minutes plus glory! (Part 2 has the HLA)

If you watch it all, you deserve a medal!

Marty Goldens Town Hall was held at the Kings Bay YM-YMHA on Nostrand was again packed with parents opposed to the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School (HLA). Unlike the Marine Park Civic Meeting, this town hall had John White from the Department of Education available to pitch the “proposal” to the community, then to take questions and address comments.

Golden, is behind the community 100% on this issue.

The meeting was rather long, if you stuck around to the end, but it was very productive for the parents to go back and forth with John White. It seemed like this would be good practice for the May 26th hearing.

The proposal as is now the HLA comes in in 2010 to co-exist with IS 278 for “two years”, with Kindergarten and 1st Grades as the grades entering the HLA.

There were some very interesting “gotcha” moments in the video of the Q & A, I will try to highlight them so you don’t have to watch the whole meeting before the Tuesday, May 26th Meeting

The BIG Meeting
You have to come to this meeting to show your opposition.
Department of Education Hearing
May 26th
Marine Park Junior High
6:00 pm get there at 5:30 pm

Next town hall there better be coffee or i’m revolting!

The May 19th Marine Park Civic association meeting the meeting was packed with parents opposed to the Hebrew Language Academy Charter School (HLA) that the city is squeezing into Marine Park Junior I.S. 278

This meeting itself wasn’t a majorly important meeting where major decisions were made. This meeting was more of a way for those opposed, to get more organized, and to be more prepared for the more important upcoming meetings, especially the Department of Education hearing on the 26th

It started off with Greg Borruso president of the Marine park Civic summing up the situation to the rather large crowd. With him explaning that the civic along with all of the local elected officials are behind them (the parents) and will stand against this “proposed” school. He explained that he along with others had met with representatives from the HLA, offering alternative locations in the district, saying to them “you’r not welcome in I.S. 278″

Borruso continued, “We have have plans for 278, 278 will be our high school and hopefully with become our preforming arts school”. The enthusastic Borruso pleaded that there would need to be at least 10 times more people that were at that this meeting to show up to the upcoming public Department of Education hearing on May 26th at Marine Park Junior High @ 6:00 pm (get there at 5:30 pm!)

Some local politicians were on hand to also explain their opposition to the school from moving in. Lew Fidler spoke against the HLA (and any charter school) but blamed mayoral control for the lack of community outreach . Lew urged everyone else to call 311 to lodge a complaint. 311 keeps track of all the complaints which will ultimately report back to the Mayor.

Alan Maisel Representative also spoke against the school.

More interesting was Congressman Anthony Weiners representative. He started to discuss a climate change bill and credit card reform that Anthony Wiener was working on, that’s when the crowd started to turn on him, The crowd obviously wasn’t there for speeches about climate change they wanted him to make a statement about the school.

When heckled by the crowd he stated that he and his office really didn’t know anything about the proposed school but if the congressmen wanted to comment he would. Borruso destroyed weiners office saying “that if the congressman would show up occasionally he would know exactly what’s going on.” Poor kid walked right into that one. Its true though, where the hell did Weiner go? Queens!

At that point Greg president made it clear to the crowd that they would be going into their normal meeting and that they need did not need to stick around. Most did leave, to have more discussion in the back of the auditorium, but others stayed to watch on.

Meeting Dates:
Marty Golden Town Hall
Kings Bay Y
May 21st 7:0 0pm

Madison Civic
2702 Quentin Rd
May 21st 7:00pm

Department of Education hearing
May 26th
Marine Park Junior High
6:00 pm get there at 5:30

Full Meeting:

Let your voice be heard!

Say NO to the proposed HLA Charter School or any Charter School coming to Marine Park Junior High School IS 278

You can help by expressing your opposition to a Charter School to be housed at Marine Park IS 278 in Brooklyn.
CALL 311 – request to lodge a complaint with Deputy Mayor Dennis Walcott

State the following:

• I am opposed to the Charter School proposal at IS 278, as well as any ‘Charter School in my community.
• Charter Schools were created for failing schools ..
• Our schools are not failing
• I believe that housing a charter school would be detrimental to the academic process of our students
• The loss of classroom space to the Charter school will result in larger class size.
• Please give me a complaint Number.

Tuesday, May 26th 2009 – 5pm to 8pm
Sunday, May 31st, 2009 – Noon to 3pm

2194 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11234

Between R and Quentin Road

Since the Wiz closed way back when in 1997 not much has happened with the buildings that they used to occupy. Sleepys in recent years took over one of the two buildings.

The other building has always remained empty, in recent days there has been a lot of activity at the former site of Nobody Beats the Wiz. Crews have been emptying out the place possibly making room for a new business.

Anyone know whats to come?

One hundred parents and interested community members from Marine Park and Brooklyn met in Marine Park Junior High School to discuss opposition to the Hebrew Charter School proposed by former hedge fund manager Michael Steinhardt and his daughter, lead applicant Sara Berman.

The proposed charter school is set to be housed within Marine Park Junior High School. The only such school to be housed within another school.

Marine Park Junior High School’s Parent’s Association distributed talking points that they hope will “lead to dissuade this ill advised proposal.”. Highlights of these points include the dire need for a high school in the Marine Park community, that the Hebrew Charter School will delay funding for a suitable venue to provide students with the necessary accommodation conducive to learning and the unacceptable ratio of middle school children to young Kindergarten and First Graders in the building (1200 to 100)

The meeting is the first of a series of meetings. Next on tap: Marine Park Civic Association, May 19 at 8:00 PM at PS 207, 4011 Fillmore Ave. and The Madison-Marine-Homecrest Civic Association, May 21 at 7:30 PM, Kings Chapel, 2702 Quentin Rd.

MarineParker.net is looking for writers, this is a paid "gig", shoot me an email at info@marineparker.net if interested.