City Tosses Plan To Close UWS School

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The New York City Department of Education has reneged on a plan to close a middle school on the Upper West Side.

The Community Action School, on West 93rd Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, was previously on the chopping block to close next fall. But, following a virtual Community Education Council meeting, during which a parent was heard making racist statements on an accidentally unmuted microphone, the city has decided to keep the school open next fall.

"As the community continues to process the harm caused by recent racist comments at a Community Education Council meeting, our focus must be on healing, stability, and ensuring students feel safe and supported," an education department spokesperson said in a statement.

The remarks, first reported by West Side Rag, came during a Zoom meeting on Feb. 10 about the possible relocation of three Upper West Side schools hosted by Community Education Council 3.

Hunter professor Allyson Friedman, who was attending the meeting as a parent, was overheard saying, "They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school," and later, "If you train a Black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back. You don’t have to tell them anymore," during the meeting.

Friedman, who told the West Side Rag that she was trying to explain systemic racism to her child when she was accidentally unmuted, apologized for the hurt her words had caused.

"Regardless of intent, these comments were deeply harmful and wholly unacceptable. That such remarks were made while a student was courageously offering public comment makes this incident even more troubling," Community Education Council 3 said in a statement following the incident.

She has since been placed on leave from Hunter College, where she was an associate professor.

"Thank you to @DOEChancellor for listening to our UWS families and deciding to not close Community Action School," Councilmember Shaun Abreu, who represents parts of the Upper West Side, Harlem and Washington Heights,said on X (formerly Twitter). "Our students need stability and I will work to help ensure CAS’s success so that they get the best public education our city has to offer."

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