By Adam Kramer
At a special public hearing last Thursday night at PS 134 at 109th Avenue and 203rd Street in Hollis, District Administrator Michael Johnson and representatives of the district's five middle schools unveiled a plan to divide the schools up into a total of 15 different academies – three in each of the district's five schools.
The plan also calls for the elimination of the district's zoning patterns, which determine the schools that students attend based on where they live.
“This initiative, like our gifted and talented program, is something that will transform the district,” Johnson said. “It makes opportunities available where students can pick a subject they can be excited about and interested in.”
The initiative must be voted on by School Board 29 after the members review the program and let the public voice their concerns or praise.
Johnson told the crowd of about 50 parents, teachers and administrators the initiative will put students into smaller groups and give them a taste of a typical high school day. He said the objective is to eliminate the confusion many students face when they begin high school and have a different teacher and class for every subject.
“We are involved in something that has not been done before,” said Diane Ehrlich, director of mathematics, science and health education for the district. “Children in the fifth grade will be asked to choose one of the three academies in the five middle schools.”
The proposed academies are: the Academy of World literature, Academy of Medical Science and Academy of Theater Arts at IS 59; the Academy of Music, Academy of Fine Arts and Academy of Comparative Government/Law at IS 109; the Academy of Sports Medicine, Academy of Multimedia Communications and Academy of Space and Ocean Exploration at IS 192; the Academy of Technology, Academy of Performing Arts and Academy of Political Science at JHS 231; and the Academy of Law, Academy of Medical Studies and Academy of Engineering at IS 238.
The parents and students select one academy of their choice from each of the schools and list them in order of preference. The district office will then place the student into an academy based on his or her choices.
The goal of the academies is to get the students involved in classes and courses of study, which intrigue and motivate each student, said Robert Anastasio, principal of IS 238. He said the new programs will “go over and above the required curriculum and standards.”
He said the idea of the academy initiative was to link each school with professionals in the academies' field of study. Then have them give lectures to the academy on their specific field of expertise.
At IS 238, he said there will be doctors, nurses and veterinarians making presentations to the students in the school's Academy of Medical Studies.
IS 192, Academy of Multimedia Communications, has formed collaborations with the New York Daily News and a local paper to work with the students on writing, putting newspaper articles together and laying out the paper, said Linda Smith, principal of IS 192.
She said the children would be required to produce newspapers and newsletters in English and Creole, which is the school's second language.
“The academies are directed to the children and what they want to do, what they are excited about,” she told the audience.
Ehrlich said another public meeting will take place in DeDiscember and presentations at each school should provide parents with information to make the proper choices for the educational betterment of their child.
“I think it is a good opportunity for children to choose what they want to learn and what interests them,” said Charles Woods who has two children in IS 192 and one child in PS 135.
He said the new program will hold “parents accountable” for what their child study.
David Weprin, who is running for the City Council in District 23 in 2001, said the new program was very impressive. He was a bit skeptical of the program when he came to the meeting, but after listening to how it will work, he had a change of heart.
“It provides the best of both worlds, the strength of the public schools and the opportunity for students to choose an atmosphere for learning,” he said. “There are no downsides.”
