HARLEM — Parents and local education leaders are suspicious of a charter school that's seeking to change its "organizational structure" — fearing it may try to expand in the space it shares with a public school, despite the charter's principal denying the claims.
The Future Leaders Institute (FLI), which is co-located with P.S. 242 on West 122nd Street, is applying to change its charter, which requires a public hearing on the proposal.
The notice for the hearing Monday evening simply stated that FLI "seeks to revise its organizational structure for the 2015-2016 school year," leaving room for speculation by members of Community Education Council 3.
The principal of the K-8 charter school, Ismael Colon, told DNAinfo New York that the school wants to add an executive director and an assistant principal, a leadership shift that necessitates a public hearing.
"FLI is not seeking anything else but the structure change," the principal said. "No enrollment expansion."
But CEC 3 leaders aren't buying it.
FLI recently earned approval from the state to raise its enrollment cap from 379 to 450 in December, creating concerns that the school may want to increase enrollment again, potentially jeopardizing the ability of P.S. 242 to grow. FLI currently counts 394 students, Colon said.
"There is starting to be some wondering about what is going on here," said CEC 3 member Theresa Hammonds, who is also a parent at P.S. 242, claiming that the notice of this hearing and the one that happened late last year regarding the enrollment change came "out of the blue."
Others charged that changes to the charter's "structure" were the school's way of gearing up for more growth.
"My interpretation of it is [FLI] might be looking to expand into the high school grades," said Nan Mead, a local parent and incoming CEC 3 member, claiming that the addition of an assistant principal could be utilized to lead the high school.
P.S. 242 was designated as an International Baccalaureate school in October, and its principal, families and leaders have said they want to capitalize on the acclaim of the designation and boost the school's enrollment and standing.
The new status has led to more local interest in the school, creating even more of a reason to protect it from encroachment, CEC leaders said.
The hearing on FLI's charter revision will be held at the school, located at 134 W. 122nd St., on Mon., June 8. Speaker sign-in starts at 5:30 p.m. and the hearing begins at 6 p.m.
