In spite of community opposition, a transfer high school is opening in the new school building on East 107th Street.
“On one hand, it’s a good concept to reach out and help students by giving them a second chance for education and careers, but the placement in that building is the issue that’s causing community concern. You’re probably still going to have protests about it,” said James Dandridge of School District 18’s Community Education Council (CEC), which represents Canarsie and East Flatbush.
Many residents opposed the city Department of Education’s (DOE) plan because the new building, located at 965 East 107 Street, was billed as an elementary and middle school. It will now hold a middle school and the transfer school, dubbed the East Brooklyn Community High School, which caters to students who struggled in traditional classroom settings.
District 18’s CEC says middle school students should not be in the same facility as the transfer school’s students, who will be up to 20 years old.
“You’re going to have young adults up to age 20 in the same building as 12-year-olds,” said council member Carlton Richardson.
“Hundreds of people in the neighborhood stood up and said we don’t want this,” Richardson added. “They totally ignored us.”
The DOE says East Brooklyn Community High School is desperately needed in Canarsie, which is already home to other transfer schools.
“This zip code had the highest transfer school need in the city. Over 100 kids from the community have already signed up to go to this school,” a source said.
There’s a possibility that the transfer school will not stay in the East 107th Street building forever.
As locals have suggested alternative homes for East Brooklyn Community High School, “we would be willing to move the school in a year if there is a suitable location elsewhere,” according to a DOE source.