Save Shuang Wen School

The District One Coalition to Save Our Schools (the “Coalition”) is a growing coalition comprised of elected representatives from PS 20M Anna Silver School, PS 94M (a District 75 school that is located inside of PS/MS 188M building), PS 184M Shuang Wen, and PS/MS 188M The Island School.

The Coalition held a press briefing on Tuesday, December 15, 2009, at 1:00pm in the first floor community room of Seward Park Housing located at 383 Grand Street, Manhattan, New York City, to discuss the negative impact of the New York City Department of Education’s (“NYC DOE”) plan to displace District One schools, students, and resources in order to create a new charter middle school for Girls Prep.

Elected officials State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Councilwoman Rosie Mendez made remarks at the press briefing. Representatives from the offices of Congresswomen Nydia M. Velázquez and Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Daniel Squadron, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer were in attendance.

The Coalition’s press briefing on Tuesday, December, 15, was the second one for this growing Coalition. The first briefing was held on November 18, 2009 prior to CEC1’s hearing on the DOE’s three scenarios.

Dear Parents and Teachers,
Thank you for delivering your letters and 311 messages in November. The politicians heard us and it was NOT ENOUGH. We are not done fighting. The DOE will accept feedback about the proposed plans until December 10.

We have a lot to do before December 10 and here’s how you can help:

1. Come to the Parent Room 114 at drop-off and pick-up times on
   - Thursday 12/3
   - Friday 12/4
   - Monday 12/7
   - Tuesday 12/8

Bring your cell phones and be ready to write letters. We will have a parent volunteer present to guide you on how to contact 311, the DOE and your politicians.

2. If you can’t make it to the Parent Room, then make the calls or write the letters yourself – see directions below.

Here are the updated messages to use:
more »

Please view the following videos of Shuang Wen parents, teachers, other District 1 community members and City Councilmembers Alan Gerson and Rosie Mendez speaking out against the DOE Charter Expansion plan at the CEC meeting on Nov. 18, 2009. The press briefing before the CEC meeting is also there, so you can see the statements made by PS 20 PTA President Monica Harris and Shuang Wen SLT Chair Troy Robinson.

(Use the arrow buttons on the right and left side of the small screen below to browse all video clips)