Charter Coming to Bishop Ford

Georgia Kral reports:

The Brooklyn Prospect Charter School has found a new place to call home — Bishop Ford High School in Windsor Terrace.

The the six through 12 grade charter school is thrilled to be leaving Sunset Park High School, a co-location that was vehemently protested by parents and administrators there.

“For months, we looked for a building that was the right size and location and also appropriate for children, and we couldn’t have found a better space to meet all of our needs,” said Brooklyn Prospect Executive Director Daniel Rubenstein in a statement.

The plan marks an end to a tumultous search for the charter school, which has had trouble finding suitable temporary space.

The two-year deal allows Brooklyn Prospect to leave Bishop Ford after one year if the charter's brand new school building in Gowanus is finished being built.

That site, on Douglass Street, is currently home to loft buildings, some with tenants still remaining, who are fighting their landlord for illegally pushing them out of their homes.

The $500,000 deal was finalized Friday, the Daily News reports, with the charter school taking over 13 classrooms on separate floors at Bishop Ford. Some "minor renovations" will begin today.

The deal was put together by Councilmember Steve Levin, who fought hard this spring to make sure Brooklyn Prospect didn't move into a Boerum Hill space that has long housed two low-income, city run daycare centers.

“This is a win-win for the community and for our two schools,” said Bishop Ford President Raymond Nash. “We look forward to working with Brooklyn Prospect to provide all of our students with a great education. This is a unique situation and we’d be remiss if we didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to learn from each other.”