New York City will move students at an under-enrolled alternative high school — who are behind on credits and at heightened risk of dropping out — to a small building without the same resources as its current site.
The city’s Panel for Educational Policy gave final approval Monday night to swap Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School on the Upper West Side, which serves less than half as many students as it did five years ago, with the Young Women’s Leadership School in East Harlem, a program double its size.
But the relocation will strip the transfer high school of its on-site child care and health centers that many students depend on to graduate. Students also fear gang violence if they move crosstown.
“It was my decision that we should in fact move forward with this proposal,” said Chancellor David Banks. “We will make all the necessary adjustments that we need to make to provide the loss of support to those at West Side.”
No specific plans have been public yet, but education officials are looking at providing access to services at off-site locations.
The change has been met with extraordinary backlash from the school, elected officials and advocates. The girl’s school, too, asked the city for an alternative site that would not displace West Side — but was turned down, according to two sources familiar with discussions.
“You’re saying you’re not going to close down the school, but you might as well, because a lot of people are going to drop out of school,” said Alyssa Cartagena, 19, a student whose child attends the daycare.
Speakers agreed the Young Women’s Leadership School, where students eat lunch in the library and struggle to fit in the gym, needs more space.
“We need a larger space to both accommodate our current students and serve many more students, given the waiting lists that we have year over year,” said Yolonda Marshall, CEO of Student Leadership Network, which oversees the girls’ school.
But critics blasted what they called a lopsided proposal to the detriment of former dropouts, teen parents and justice-involved students.
“This is just the coldest plan I could have ever imagined,” said Deputy Council Speaker Diana Ayala (D-Manhattan). “I don’t know how any of us can allow a situation like this to happen, and still be able to get up tomorrow and look any of those kids in the face.”
The Young Women’s Leadership School was founded by Ann Tisch, from one of the wealthiest NYC families. Her sister-in-law, Merryl Tisch, chairs the SUNY Board of Trustees and led the Education Department’s Board of Regents.
If there was ever a need to discuss equity, this is it,” said Councilwoman Gale Brewer (D-Manhattan).
The shrinking size of West Side High School — to roughly 200 students — mirrors a citywide trend. Across the five boroughs, about 70% of the city’s transfer schools now enroll fewer than 200 students, up from more than a quarter five years ago, according to a recent Chalkbeat analysis.
Last month, education officials delayed a vote by the Panel for Educational Policy until Monday after The News reported on drawbacks of the new site.
Most votes in favor were members appointed by Mayor Adams, who make up the majority of the panel and historically follow City Hall directives. One panelist representing the mayor, Maria Kenley, abstained, while another, Khari Edwards, was absent.
With roughly 100 public commenters speaking out against the proposal at the meeting, some panelists were surprised the plan was not axed by the administration.
“I’ve never seen this happen. Ever,” said Geneal Chacon, a six-year veteran of the panel appointed by Bronx Borough President. “With different mayors, different administrations, I’ve never seen this happen.”