John Adams High School, Richmond Hill High School and six other schools in Queens just found out they don’t have to change their names.
The 24 turnaround schools that narrowly avoided closure in July now have confirmation from the Department of Education that they will keep their old monikers.
In a letter sent to turnaround schools’ principals, DOE officials outlined what needs to be done to get ready for the swiftly approaching school year, and one of the first concerns was what to call the school.
It’s been a tumultuous ride for students and teachers.
The 24 struggling schools had been slated for closure as part of a plan to qualify for almost $60 million in federal funding.
The schools would then reopen as a new school in the same building serving the same students but with half of the teachers replaced.
Last month, an arbitrator ruled that this plan, which forced all teachers at the schools to reapply for their jobs, violated their union contract.
On July 24 when a state judge up- held that arbitrators ruling, the city and schools had to scramble to get ready for the new school year without implementing the major changes that had been in the works.
The city has vowed to appeal the judge’s decision, but that can’t happen until the fall when the state’s appeals court starts hearing cases.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
