Transferred my child from brighter choice to a new school in Staten Island. She been in dual language class since 3K and is now in the 1st grade. New school called to confirm… they told her my child has an IEP and was NEVER in dual language classes!! What?! If she had one or that was the situation that’s fine… but why are you giving FALSE information about the students? They really need to do better!!!
N
Nadirah Barnes
2 years ago
As a former parent of Brighter Choice Community School and an educator it saddens me to see the changes that have taken place at this institution of learning. Entering a new environment as an administrator it isn’t always easy transitioning and making changes but you should try your best to find a median space. The abrupt changes and disregard for the current events and policies and exchanges of conversations that have been discussed and expressed are not acceptable for an individual that is attempting to bridge gaps. At this time I think it is in the best interest of the school to take the necessary steps to ensure that the children are the most important focus and that are well respected and loved genuinely and that families input thoughts and ideas are taken into consideration.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Happy to sign this.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Featured
Former BCCS parent and PTA board member here. I’m signing in solidarity with the BCCS community — my community. This school is supposed to be a safe space for kids and families of BedStuy and the impact this shift will have on the students and their education journey is unforgivable.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
I want to echo the concerns about student safety and not feeling like IA Principal Phillips is listening to parent concerns.
The early childhood door is often left unattended (an adult is often guarding the cafeteria or in the cafeteria instead). When I approached the principal with my concern he dismissed it saying my concern was, and I quote, “not reality.” He indicated he thought that an adult standing in the hallway (and periodically dipping into the cafeteria) was sufficient to cover the door. This was completely dismissive of my concern and is out of alignment with DOE policies on opening doors not staffed by a safety agent. It also ignores the fact that someone standing in the hallway or cafeteria would not see someone on the stairs (including a child leaving the building!)
I was really trying to give him the benefit of the doubt as a new principal to the school and assumed he just wasn’t aware of the requirement. But to have him completely dismiss my lived experience and repeated observations as “not reality” was really concerning and calls into question our ability as parents to raise safety (or any) concerns.
When I asked him what he would do if someone enters the building and he was in the hallway, he said he would “stop them” which I assume was intended to fill me with confidence but is not remotely a realistic response.
I felt there was no attempt to listen to my concern and there was no offer to look into it. My concern was just “not reality.”
F
Fenni Fields
2 years ago
My kids also told me he was being missed treated by this NEW Principal too and is very mean and nasty for NO Reason he sent my son home on his birthday because someone did something to my son but my son was the only one punished
D
Denisha Carter
2 years ago
Bring Mr.Daniels Back !!!!
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Featured
I really hope this works. The principals actions are unacceptable with the way he treats the students & staff. My son does not want to go to school most of the time because he has complained about the way Mr. Philips talks to all the kids. I have witnessed him screaming at children and being very harsh and I was astonished
J
Jordan Bancroft
2 years ago
I was horrified to hear how your family was treated Ms. Soto. I'm really sorry, this should. E
B
Brian McNamara
2 years ago
Everything we love about BCCS has changed dramatically.
K
Kimberly J
2 years ago
There are a lot of changes happening.Not a lot of communication for parents to know ahead of time or to understand the purpose of these changes. The school year feels unsettled and we are going on 2 months. It would have been one thing to come in and see how things operate prior to jumping in and shifting everything. Change is already scary not only for our kids but for us as parents as well. knowing that you have no say in what happens in even more unsettling. Especially with the way things have been going. It is not okay. It shouldn’t have had to come to this but at this point what other choice do we have?
L
Latasha Faison
2 years ago
We need more communication!
A
Alie Stumpf
2 years ago
Thank you to the parents who put this together. Signing in solidarity. We need caring, invested leadership. I gave admin time to respond & now I’m signing bc the silence is confirming what I read here.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Featured
I am concerned about the change in tone of communication from the school- there seems to be a wall in terms of access to the principal, especially concerning student safety. When speaking with the principal, he does not sound like a partner but rather, he sounds like he’s trying to figure out whether he’s directly responsible and should act/care. In rolling out changes, he has also sounded condescending, which isn’t a leadership quality. This school has staff/teachers who send their own children here, and many parents who work in education, and his tact and radius of concern are both lacking.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Featured
We have noticed the lack of communication especially during the Hispanic heritage event when the principal was angry at the phone in the building entrance and no security was present when we arrived. Also the Hispanic heritage walk through seemed poorly communicated beforehand. I have not witnessed all of the other claims but am concerned about them for sure.
A
Anonymous
2 years ago
Unacceptable
J
Jessica Hernandez
2 years ago
Featured
This is absolutely unacceptable. BCCS was our families safe haven when our daughter was bullied and sexually harassed at her former charter school. BCCS was so welcoming from the staff especially principal Daniels and Ms Reynoso, to the students. No matter what time of day we always had our questions answered we had reassurance the whole student body was safe and well cared for. It saddens us to see this happening to our beloved community school.
T
Terrance Johnson
2 years ago
This is absolutely horrible and I am sorry that your family had to suffer this terrible experience. Please email [email protected]
Y
Yashira Soto
2 years ago
My daughter almost passed away due to the negligence of the principal and vice principal of Brighter Choice Community School. When we tried to get answers on why the principal didn't get to us right away we were told that he cannot meet with us without the vice principal. When I scheduled a meeting to see him he kept on postponing my appointment. This was ongoing for about a month. When I finally got down to sit with him to speak about on the ongoing he was very dismissive and kept on asking for Hospital documentation despite the fact that I already provided Hospital documentation to the school for my daughter's absence. The principal also suggested that I did not make the school well aware that my daughter has asthma. Before he even became the principal of my children's School it was well known that my daughter and my son who previously went to that school are chronic asthmatics. We even had arguments with the vice principal because she kept on letting my daughter and my son go outside during heat waves and cold years prior. This resulted in multiple visits to the emergency room and clinics which led to my children being absent multiple days of the school year. In my opinion it is not only the principal that needs to be replaced it's also the vice principal. To add insult to injury he then suggested that me and my family seek therapy to deal with the problems that my daughter has now because of them letting her go outside during the heat wave. Furthermore when my husband went to go speak to the staff while my daughter was in the hospital, staff blamed the new principal. The vice principal was more concerned about my husband not knowing her name instead of paying attention to why he was upset. So I removed both my scholars from the school immediately after all this took place. Not too long after I took my kids out of school I had the truancy officer called me and said that they needed the hospitals information so they could confirm that my daughter was in the hospi
J
Jennifer Pomales
2 years ago
a lot of children are not happy with all the changes that has taken placed .
Transferred my child from brighter choice to a new school in Staten Island. She been in dual language class since 3K and is now in the 1st grade. New school called to confirm… they told her my child has an IEP and was NEVER in dual language classes!! What?! If she had one or that was the situation that’s fine… but why are you giving FALSE information about the students? They really need to do better!!!
As a former parent of Brighter Choice Community School and an educator it saddens me to see the changes that have taken place at this institution of learning. Entering a new environment as an administrator it isn’t always easy transitioning and making changes but you should try your best to find a median space. The abrupt changes and disregard for the current events and policies and exchanges of conversations that have been discussed and expressed are not acceptable for an individual that is attempting to bridge gaps. At this time I think it is in the best interest of the school to take the necessary steps to ensure that the children are the most important focus and that are well respected and loved genuinely and that families input thoughts and ideas are taken into consideration.
Happy to sign this.
Former BCCS parent and PTA board member here. I’m signing in solidarity with the BCCS community — my community. This school is supposed to be a safe space for kids and families of BedStuy and the impact this shift will have on the students and their education journey is unforgivable.
I want to echo the concerns about student safety and not feeling like IA Principal Phillips is listening to parent concerns. The early childhood door is often left unattended (an adult is often guarding the cafeteria or in the cafeteria instead). When I approached the principal with my concern he dismissed it saying my concern was, and I quote, “not reality.” He indicated he thought that an adult standing in the hallway (and periodically dipping into the cafeteria) was sufficient to cover the door. This was completely dismissive of my concern and is out of alignment with DOE policies on opening doors not staffed by a safety agent. It also ignores the fact that someone standing in the hallway or cafeteria would not see someone on the stairs (including a child leaving the building!) I was really trying to give him the benefit of the doubt as a new principal to the school and assumed he just wasn’t aware of the requirement. But to have him completely dismiss my lived experience and repeated observations as “not reality” was really concerning and calls into question our ability as parents to raise safety (or any) concerns. When I asked him what he would do if someone enters the building and he was in the hallway, he said he would “stop them” which I assume was intended to fill me with confidence but is not remotely a realistic response. I felt there was no attempt to listen to my concern and there was no offer to look into it. My concern was just “not reality.”
My kids also told me he was being missed treated by this NEW Principal too and is very mean and nasty for NO Reason he sent my son home on his birthday because someone did something to my son but my son was the only one punished
Bring Mr.Daniels Back !!!!
I really hope this works. The principals actions are unacceptable with the way he treats the students & staff. My son does not want to go to school most of the time because he has complained about the way Mr. Philips talks to all the kids. I have witnessed him screaming at children and being very harsh and I was astonished
I was horrified to hear how your family was treated Ms. Soto. I'm really sorry, this should. E
Everything we love about BCCS has changed dramatically.
There are a lot of changes happening.Not a lot of communication for parents to know ahead of time or to understand the purpose of these changes. The school year feels unsettled and we are going on 2 months. It would have been one thing to come in and see how things operate prior to jumping in and shifting everything. Change is already scary not only for our kids but for us as parents as well. knowing that you have no say in what happens in even more unsettling. Especially with the way things have been going. It is not okay. It shouldn’t have had to come to this but at this point what other choice do we have?
We need more communication!
Thank you to the parents who put this together. Signing in solidarity. We need caring, invested leadership. I gave admin time to respond & now I’m signing bc the silence is confirming what I read here.
I am concerned about the change in tone of communication from the school- there seems to be a wall in terms of access to the principal, especially concerning student safety. When speaking with the principal, he does not sound like a partner but rather, he sounds like he’s trying to figure out whether he’s directly responsible and should act/care. In rolling out changes, he has also sounded condescending, which isn’t a leadership quality. This school has staff/teachers who send their own children here, and many parents who work in education, and his tact and radius of concern are both lacking.
We have noticed the lack of communication especially during the Hispanic heritage event when the principal was angry at the phone in the building entrance and no security was present when we arrived. Also the Hispanic heritage walk through seemed poorly communicated beforehand. I have not witnessed all of the other claims but am concerned about them for sure.
Unacceptable
This is absolutely unacceptable. BCCS was our families safe haven when our daughter was bullied and sexually harassed at her former charter school. BCCS was so welcoming from the staff especially principal Daniels and Ms Reynoso, to the students. No matter what time of day we always had our questions answered we had reassurance the whole student body was safe and well cared for. It saddens us to see this happening to our beloved community school.
This is absolutely horrible and I am sorry that your family had to suffer this terrible experience. Please email [email protected]
My daughter almost passed away due to the negligence of the principal and vice principal of Brighter Choice Community School. When we tried to get answers on why the principal didn't get to us right away we were told that he cannot meet with us without the vice principal. When I scheduled a meeting to see him he kept on postponing my appointment. This was ongoing for about a month. When I finally got down to sit with him to speak about on the ongoing he was very dismissive and kept on asking for Hospital documentation despite the fact that I already provided Hospital documentation to the school for my daughter's absence. The principal also suggested that I did not make the school well aware that my daughter has asthma. Before he even became the principal of my children's School it was well known that my daughter and my son who previously went to that school are chronic asthmatics. We even had arguments with the vice principal because she kept on letting my daughter and my son go outside during heat waves and cold years prior. This resulted in multiple visits to the emergency room and clinics which led to my children being absent multiple days of the school year. In my opinion it is not only the principal that needs to be replaced it's also the vice principal. To add insult to injury he then suggested that me and my family seek therapy to deal with the problems that my daughter has now because of them letting her go outside during the heat wave. Furthermore when my husband went to go speak to the staff while my daughter was in the hospital, staff blamed the new principal. The vice principal was more concerned about my husband not knowing her name instead of paying attention to why he was upset. So I removed both my scholars from the school immediately after all this took place. Not too long after I took my kids out of school I had the truancy officer called me and said that they needed the hospitals information so they could confirm that my daughter was in the hospi
a lot of children are not happy with all the changes that has taken placed .