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Schools

City Proposes Charter School Replace M.S. 571

Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School will likely move into the space vacated by M.S. 571 in the fall.

Brooklyn East Collegiate Charter School will move into 80 Underhill Ave. as , replacing the ailing middle school entirely by fall of 2013, if a Department of Education proposal passes a vote next month. 

The charter school would start classes at 80 Underhill Ave. by the start of the next school year, housing more than 160 students in grades five and six. Part of the Uncommon Schools community, Brooklyn East Collegiate focuses on serving low-income students often ignored by many city schools.

“The schools we create are … looking for areas in the city where there are underserved students who need high quality college prep classes,” said Laura Lee McGovern, chief operating officer of the collegiate network.

Currently shares the school building with M.S. 571, a school identified as one of more than 20 low-performing schools the city plans to close. The middle school is slated to begin shutting down this fall — starting with sixth grade — and close entirely by 2013. Students currently enrolled will be allowed to finish their education at M.S. 571.

The charter school opened its doors to fifth-grade students this year in temporary quarters at 1435 Pacific St. in Crown Heights with the plan of adding a new grade with each academic year. Uncommon Schools runs six other charter schools in Brooklyn.

“Not to say there aren’t other middle school options in Prospect Heights,” said McGovern, “but we think, certainly, the community could use another one.”

But not everyone is excited about another school taking over M.S. 571. Parents of some students are trying . The phase-out of M.S. 571 is still only a proposal, but with the Department of Education already talking about replacing the school, the middle school’s closure seems likely, said Maria Salichs, P.T.A. president of M.S. 571.

“I’m just at a loss of words,” Salichs said. “It’s all moving so fast and I don’t see how we have a fighting chance to keep 571 open.”

In spite of its troubles, M.S. 571 earned a reputation for taking students other schools turned down, Salichs said.

“(M.S.) 571 is a safe haven for a lot of kids,” Salichs said. “What happens when it is over and done with? Where are those kids going to go?”

Brooklyn East Collegiate will give preference to students within District 13, McGovern said, adding that her school The charter school also prefers to teach students often cast aside by other schools.

“The population M.S. 571 does serve, is exactly the core population that we serve,” said McGovern. We felt like there was really an opportunity to provide a great, quality school.”

A public hearing will be held on Monday, Jan. 24 before the 13-member Panel for Educational Policy, the governing body that oversees the schools, votes on Feb. 3. Both meetings will start at 6 p.m. at Brooklyn Technical High School, 29 Fort Greene Place.

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