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Volume XVIII • Number 39 • September 22 - 28, 2011 •
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Study casts new light on our local schools BY MIAWLING LAM Nearly two in five teachers at P.S. 24 resign within three years, P.S. 81 is grossly overcrowded and the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy allocates 72 percent of its budget to classroom instruction. New data released by the New York City Independent Budget Office reveals Riverdale’s three schools spent at least $8,000 educating each child last year. Despite the per-pupil spending, local class sizes exceed the citywide average, and both elementary schools cram nearly 30 students into each of their fifth-grade classrooms. The surprising figures emerged from the first-ever IBO analysis of city school data released last Wednesday and provide a rare glimpse into the inner workings of Riverdale’s three schools. While such details have previously been available in piecemeal fashion, the IBO’s report brings them together in one central location and allows parents to quickly see a school’s academic performance, student attendance rate and the way a school uses its funding streams. P.S. 24 earned the unwelcome distinction of having the largest class sizes in Riverdale, with the school packing an average of 29.8 students into its fifth-grade classrooms last year. In comparison, P.S. 81 had an average of 29 students in its fifth-grade class. Both elementary schools surpassed the citywide average of 25.4 pupils for that grade. The Spuyten Duyvil School also registered a three-year teacher attrition rate of 39 percent—the highest among Riverdale’s three public schools. When it came to classroom instruction spending though, P.S. 24 was unrivaled and allocated up to 77 percent—the largest proportion of all three schools—to student learning. At P.S. 81, overcrowding appears to be the greatest
concern. The school registered a building utilization rate of 130 percent, meaning the school exceeded its 526-student capacity by 159 pupils. In terms of the three-year teacher attrition rates, P.S. 81 recorded a figure of just 14 percent—far below the citywide average of 27 percent—and spent more than $9,500 educating each of its students, the highest of the three schools. Meanwhile, at M.S/H.S 141, nearly half the students are Hispanic, one in five pupils are over-age and daily attendance rates hover between 84 percent for twelfthgraders and 95 percent for sixth-graders. The data also shows RKA’s teachers boast a median of nine years teaching experience versus the citywide average of seven years, and a three-year teacher attrition rate of 33 percent, seven percentage points below the citywide high school average. RKA principal Lori O’Mara said although “a large number” of teachers retired last year, the school has a stable staff roster. “This is a school that tends to have longevity in its staff,” she told the Riverdale Review. “It’s the kind of place that people do want to stay at until they do feel like it’s time to retire.” In its analysis of citywide data, the IBO established a link between students’ economic situation and attendance record with their performance on statewide math and English tests. It concluded that students who are absent five days or fewer passed proficiency tests at a rate more than double of those who missed school 21 days or more. The agency also linked test scores to poverty and found that children from low-income families scored much lower on the English Language Arts and math tests than those who paid full-price for lunch.
IBO Director Ronnie Lowenstein said the findings represented a treasure trove of information. “We are pleased to make these new resources available to parents, policymakers and other New Yorkers concerned about the city’s schools,” she said. “The report provides a statistical description of the students who attend the city’s public schools, the fiscal resources available to support the schools, the principal and teachers who staff the schools, and selected indicators of school performance for key subgroups of students.” The report is the first study of its kind from the IBO after mayoral control of schools was renewed in 2009. Under the terms of the agreement, the budget office is required to “enhance official and public understanding” of the school system.
Daily traffic chaos reigns outside P.S. 24 and RKA
By MIAWLING LAM Student safety is allegedly being compromised after the Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy changed their arrival and dismissal times. Under the changes, which came into effect two weeks ago, students from M.S/H.S 141 start and finish school within 10 minutes of their younger counterparts at P.S. 24. Concerns about the near-simultaneous arrival and departure of hundreds of students at the two schools were raised at last Wednesday’s Community Board 8 general meeting. CB8 member Robert Press said the timing alignment was causing traffic snarls and gridlock outside Continued on Page 5
Golf staffers at two local courses play for bragging rights
Employees of Van Cortlandt Park and Mosholu golf courses played in the third annual tournament between the two clubs, which wrapped up Monday after 18 holes at each course over a two week span. Van Cortlandt won on the final hole of the last match after K.B. Singh parred the 18th at Mosholu.
By BRENDAN McHUGH In true rubber-match fashion, the third annual “Vanny Lu” golf tournament between the employees of the Van Cortlandt Park and Mosholu golf courses came down to the final hole of the final match. Heading into the par 3 18th hole at Mosholu one up, Van Cortlandt golfer K.B. Singh knocked his tee shot to 15 feet while the two Mosholu golfers missed the green entirely. Singh and his partner made par while the other two finished with a bogey. In the match play, scramble tournament, Van Cortlandt won the hole. Not only were the two clubs tied going into the final hole, but they had been tied at the start of the day after the two teams played 18 holes at Van
Cortlandt Park last week. “It was a close match all the time,” Singh said. “It came down to the final round.” Fellow Van Cortlandt employee agreed, crediting the teamwork in the mostly individual sport. “Overall, we had a lot of guys that picked it up when others weren’t,” Martin Gordon said. “But it was tooth and nail down to the bitter end.” Van Cortlandt had almost put the tournament out of reach in the group before Singh. On the 18th hole, Tony DeSimone, the main organizer of the event, dropped a 36-footer uphill to halve the match. Had he missed the putt, Van Cortlandt would have gone up 4-2 and just needed to halve the final match.