Schools
Community Roots Hires Teachers for Middle School
The city postponed a critical vote on the expansion of the school, but instructors for the new grades are apparently ready to work.
The controversial expansion of a charter school is still being mulled over by the city, but the school's administration is proceeding as if it's a done deal.
Councilwoman Letitia James said that Community Roots Charter School has already begun hiring for middle school classes — classes that will only exist if the city's proposal to expand the school is approved next month.
“The principal recently hired two new seventh grade math teachers,” James said after a meeting Tuesday night of the school district’s Community Education Council.
A Department of Education spokesman could not confirm the new hires, and countered that the expansion of Community Roots into a middle school is already approved — it’s just the location of the school that is in question.
But it is unclear how the charter school would be able to add 150 new students by 2013 if it is not allowed to do so in its current location on St. Edwards Street. The Department of Education has not signaled that any alternative locations for Community Roots are being considered — though James recently came forward with her plan for a new facility for the school.
In a March 31 letter to then-Deputy Mayor Dennis M. Walcott — — Councilwoman James proposed that the charter school move into the P.S. 287 building on Navy Street, which will be partially in 2012, pending city approval.
The DOE has not commented on that proposal.
Controversy over the Community Roots’ growth began earlier this year when the Department of Education approved the plan for the school to expand to include a middle school.
A quickly developed among parents from the other two schools in the building, who said that the expansion would reduce classroom space for students at P.S. 67, and compromise the therapy sessions needed by disabled students who attend P369K.
The DOE has yet to reschedule the public hearing cancelled on April 11th regarding the status of Community Roots expansion.
A final vote on the on the location of Community Roots is set for May 18.
Community Roots Principal Alison Keil also declined to comment.
