To The Editor:
Re: “Letters to the Editor” about Public School 207, 9-11 issue.
I take great offense in what this “neighbor” has stated about my school. Yes, I can call PS 207 my school because I have been a part of PS 207 and the Marine Park community since 1976.
I went to PS 207 as a child, my father then taught in the building for 16 years, and I am now a teacher/administrator in the building for the past 11 years. I am appalled that this person had the audacity to compare my school to a dump. Obviously, he knows very little about our school except what he actually sees on the Kimball Street side of the building.
If this “neighbor” actually walked the perimeter of the building he would realize that Mrs. Bosco has made many improvements. We have just redone the front of the building planting new grass and removing old hedges. She even replaced a banner that was only two years old because it had become faded and replaced it with a brand new one. Are these the actions of a leader who is not concerned with the appearance of her school? She has also given the 6-8 grade student council permission to begin planting beautiful flowers in the front of the building now that our exterior construction has been completed.
These are just some of the improvements made by Mrs. Bosco. Let us not ignore the constant efforts of our PTA to constantly decorate the outside of our school for special days, such as 9/11, where beautiful bows and patriotic bunting was hung to commemorate those lives lost in 9/11.
I guess this neighbor also has not seen our Freedom Garden which is constantly maintained by our custodial staff.
More importantly than the outside appearance of our school, this “neighbor” has ignored the incredible education that our students receive inside the building. Mrs. Bosco has maintained and exceeded high levels of academic achievement. She had a vision to create a safe, nurturing K-8 environment and our students are flourishing. Through her guidance and leadership she has taught our children to be respectful and become fine men and women.
This is not a person who lacks leadership skills, but has upheld the meaning of what it is to be a leader. To this neighbor I say how can you compare our school to a dump? I am a product of that school and I am now an administrator, my brother is a product of PS 207 and he is a successful doctor.
We are only two examples of the type of students PS 207 has turned out, but I know that there are many more who have entered this building and became very successful due to the guidance and education we had at this school. I do not think this could have been accomplished in a “dump.”
Terri Contursi
Asstistant Principal (I.A.)
Fillmore Academy
At Public School 207
