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It’s Official: PS 204 To Take Over New Building

February 5, 2010

By JAMES FERGUSSON

The city’s Panel for Educational Policy voted on Jan. 27 to approve the phaseout of 19 public schools, five of which are in the Bronx. The reason: poor student performance. (One Bronx school, Alfred E. Smith High School, was previously slated for the chopping block, but survived to fight another day.)

Many parents, teachers, and students at the condemned schools were left fuming. They said the closures were undeserved. But not everyone had a bad night. PS 204, a highly-rated elementary school in Morris Heights, received a green light from the Panel to move into a new building at 1740 Macombs Rd, where University and West Tremont avenues meet.

This means PS 204 will be saying goodbye – and good riddance – to its current building, a dilapidated, castle-like structure and one-time synagogue located at 108 W. 174th St.

In a telephone interview, the school’s principal Marcy Glattstein called the new location a “gorgeous site” which will offer “all the things that the children of this school have not had” – including a gym, a library, and an auditorium.

Glattstein said the move, scheduled for the summer, in time for the new school year, was “long overdue.”

The school community – notably the parents – supported the move and made their voices heard, Glattstein added, which helped get the Department of Education on board. By law, the Panel has the final say, but their board members rarely vote against the DOE’s wishes.

Local politicians also backed the relocation. “I’m so happy that 204 is going to move into this building,” said Assemblymember Vanessa Gibson, speaking at a Community Board 5 meeting on Wednesday.

As an added bonus, the move will enable PS 204 to close its satellite location at 1732 Davidson Ave., and bring all its students under one roof. The new building – known as PS/IS 338 – will also house a 60-seat District 75 program, for special needs students.

Carl C. Icahn South Bronx Charter School, a school in Morrisania, will relocate to PS 204’s current building, the former synagogue, according to the DOE. Will Havemann, a spokesman, said in December that the department would address some of the issues parents and teachers have raised about that building, but it’s unclear what will be done. The DOE didn’t respond to specific questions.

“The building is deteriorating. It’s not meant to be a school,” Ted Garcia, president of Community Education Council 9, previously told the Monitor.

Related articles:
DOE Close to Finalizing Plans for New Building
PS 204 Teachers, Parents: Current Building Not Up to Par

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