Please sign on to the following letter:
Dear Superintendent Mashel, Mr. Caccioppoli, and Mr. Shelton,
As parents of current or graduated Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy students and as current or past officers in the RKA Parents Association, we’re writing to ask you not to place PS 24 students at RKA next year as has been proposed.
While we’re sympathetic to the situation faced by PS 24 administrators and parents, RKA is already dealing with space issues of its own. Many teachers now float between classrooms, hallways are so crowded during passing periods that students often can’t make it to their next class on time, and the cafeteria and other common areas are similiarly full.
RKA, a school built originally for middle school students only, is overcrowded and each year brings a larger group of incoming 6th graders. Next year there may be almost 300 in 6th grade alone, pushing our overall school population toward 1,500. Accommodating RKA students is challenging this year, and it will be more so as the population grows.
The two classrooms under consideration are being used now. There are an average of 30 students in each of these rooms in each of six periods. Moving PS 24 children in would mean finding alternate space for these RKA students in their own school building.
Community members fought hard to create a neighborhood middle-high school for Riverdale and Kingsbridge. RKA is a vibrant part of the community and most of the students in the area attend the school. Please don’t compromise the school environment students in grades 6-12 deserve by co-locating children from another school at RKA.
We appreciate your consideration.
Best regards,
Please note that this letter has already been signed by more than 60 RKA parents in addition to the online signers and may also be shared with our local elected officials and other Department of Education officials.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
January 6, 2016
January 6, 2016
Seeing this kind of momentum feels like a weight lifting off my chest because I know exactly how much our school hallways are already struggling. It is clear that so many of you understand why we must fight to keep these classrooms for the students who use them every single day.
January 6, 2016
I have been hearing from so many of you who are just as worried as I am about what these changes will do to our children's daily experience. My focus is now on getting a direct answer from the administration about how they plan to handle these massive space shortages.
Reached 100 supporters
January 5, 2016
116 Comments
As a retired inner city school Principal, I am fully aware that for children to meet their educational needs, small schools and smaller classes are essential. RKA is already at its maximum.
No overcrowded RKA and no taking away of classrooms at the already overcrowded RKA the board of education need to try harder to find a better solution that serves the children of RKA and PS24 better. It affects the quality of education and safety.
An even larger concern is having elementary aged students in a school building which houses pre-adolescents and young adults; not an ideal situation. Additionally, the sheer number of students at RKA MS/HS is already at an enormous high. Reconsider other viable options.
The school has enough children as it is. The teachers are currently at their max. Adding more children will affect the level of education that the children will receive. There are plenty of new schools opened/opening around the neighborhood which I am sure have the capacity to host additional kids.
I feel for the students and parents at PS 24 but I think RKA has enough of it's own crowding issues. Neither group of students should have to suffer for the DOEs lack of follow through in retaining the space at the Whitehall. I hope that a more reasonable resolution can be found to this issue.
RKA is already over crowded, and this will be a major safety issue.
Our schools are already facing overcrowding. Funding is available to provide fixtures needed at their current school and or to build a building PS 24 deserves.
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Please sign on to the following letter:
Dear Superintendent Mashel, Mr. Caccioppoli, and Mr. Shelton,
As parents of current or graduated Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy students and as current or past officers in the RKA Parents Association, we’re writing to ask you not to place PS 24 students at RKA next year as has been proposed.
While we’re sympathetic to the situation faced by PS 24 administrators and parents, RKA is already dealing with space issues of its own. Many teachers now float between classrooms, hallways are so crowded during passing periods that students often can’t make it to their next class on time, and the cafeteria and other common areas are similiarly full.
RKA, a school built originally for middle school students only, is overcrowded and each year brings a larger group of incoming 6th graders. Next year there may be almost 300 in 6th grade alone, pushing our overall school population toward 1,500. Accommodating RKA students is challenging this year, and it will be more so as the population grows.
The two classrooms under consideration are being used now. There are an average of 30 students in each of these rooms in each of six periods. Moving PS 24 children in would mean finding alternate space for these RKA students in their own school building.
Community members fought hard to create a neighborhood middle-high school for Riverdale and Kingsbridge. RKA is a vibrant part of the community and most of the students in the area attend the school. Please don’t compromise the school environment students in grades 6-12 deserve by co-locating children from another school at RKA.
We appreciate your consideration.
Best regards,
Please note that this letter has already been signed by more than 60 RKA parents in addition to the online signers and may also be shared with our local elected officials and other Department of Education officials.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
January 6, 2016
January 6, 2016
Seeing this kind of momentum feels like a weight lifting off my chest because I know exactly how much our school hallways are already struggling. It is clear that so many of you understand why we must fight to keep these classrooms for the students who use them every single day.
January 6, 2016
I have been hearing from so many of you who are just as worried as I am about what these changes will do to our children's daily experience. My focus is now on getting a direct answer from the administration about how they plan to handle these massive space shortages.
Reached 100 supporters
January 5, 2016
116 Comments
RKA is over crowded already. Another alternative should be created for PS 24. Placing 5th graders with junior high and high school students should be strongly advised against. These years are very important for kids preparing for high school and college, this could affect their desire to work hard.
As a retired inner city school Principal, I am fully aware that for children to meet their educational needs, small schools and smaller classes are essential. RKA is already at its maximum.
No overcrowded RKA and no taking away of classrooms at the already overcrowded RKA the board of education need to try harder to find a better solution that serves the children of RKA and PS24 better. It affects the quality of education and safety.
An even larger concern is having elementary aged students in a school building which houses pre-adolescents and young adults; not an ideal situation. Additionally, the sheer number of students at RKA MS/HS is already at an enormous high. Reconsider other viable options.
The school has enough children as it is. The teachers are currently at their max. Adding more children will affect the level of education that the children will receive. There are plenty of new schools opened/opening around the neighborhood which I am sure have the capacity to host additional kids.
I feel for the students and parents at PS 24 but I think RKA has enough of it's own crowding issues. Neither group of students should have to suffer for the DOEs lack of follow through in retaining the space at the Whitehall. I hope that a more reasonable resolution can be found to this issue.
RKA is already over crowded, and this will be a major safety issue.
Our schools are already facing overcrowding. Funding is available to provide fixtures needed at their current school and or to build a building PS 24 deserves.
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RKA is over crowded already. Another alternative should be created for PS 24. Placing 5th graders with junior high and high school students should be strongly advised against. These years are very important for kids preparing for high school and college, this could affect their desire to work hard.