THE ASSEMBLY

STATE OF NEW YORK

ALBANY

DISTRICT OFFICE
Shirley Chisholm State Office Building
55 Hanson Place, Room 328
Brooklyn, New York 11217
(718) 596-0100
ALBANY OFFICE
Room 528
Legislative Office Building
Albany, New York 12248
(518) 455-5325

WALTER T. MOSLEY
th
Assemblyman 57 District
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EMAIL
mosleyw@assembly.state.ny.us

Hon. Walter T. Mosley

Member, New York State Assembly Education Committee

Public Comments
Community Education Council No. 13
Monthly Meeting
Public Comment on Proposed Rezoning of School District 13
P.S. 307, 209 York St.
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238
Wednesday, September 30th, 2015
I would like to thank Chancellor Carmen Faria, Superintendent Barbara
Freeman, President David Goldstein and fellow board members of
Community Education Council (CEC) No. 13 for granting me the opportunity
tonight to comment on the proposed rezoning of School District13
incorporating the catchment area of P.S. 307.
My name is Walter Mosley, New York State Assemblyman from the 57 th
Assembly District. I represent the neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill,
Prospect Heights and parts of Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights.
During my career as a public official, I have had the pleasure to serve my
district on several levels; whether it has been through my local community
board as chair of the economic development committee; as State
Committeeman; or as a member of the Assembly. I take particular pride on
being a standing member on the Assembly Education committee because it
gives me the ability to be the voice of my community in Albany when

education policies are formulated. But first and foremost, I am a proud parent
of a child who attends public school in our very own
District 13, which overlaps our Assembly district.
It has been brought to my attention that the New York City Department of
Education (DOE) is seeking to rezone District 13 to incorporate P.S. 307, an
underutilized school, to ease the over-crowded classrooms at P.S. 8. In 20142015, P.S. 8 was approximately 135% overcapacity, had a significant wait list
for 2015-2016, and has been projected by the DOE that overcrowding and
subsequent wait lists will continue to increase if the current zone size is not
reduced.
We have seen in the past decade, the population levels increase in
communities throughout the borough of Brooklyn and are currently up nearly
6 percent, according to the latest census numbers. Likewise, the growth of
residents in Downtown Brooklyn is set to explode at even greater numbers
after the completion of several large scale housing developments such as City
Point and Pacific Park. This influx of new residents to our area translates to
higher strains on our infrastructure such as roads, subway and sewerage lines,
electricity and gas service to name a few. It also puts a strain on our public
services especially our schools.
I can share with you as an elected official that the need for urgent action is
before all of us but today I come as a parent, resident and concerned neighbor.
Like many of you who are in this hall tonight, you are asking yourself one of
two clear and succinct questions: (1) Do I want to send my child to P.S. 307
or (2) Why am I being asked to embrace some who are reluctant to come to
P.S. 307?
According to recent reports from the New York Times, 37% of students are
preforming at below standards. These numbers, if accurate, would worry
any parent because the quality of education seems to be in question. But I also
say that those numbers are misleading. This year alone nearly 20% of public
school children state-wide opted out of the common core testing on the basis
that the test is unfair and convoluted. This significantly skewed statistics and
showed a blaring issue with our current academic metric system of testing
which I will continue to address with the Board of Regents and with my
colleagues when we return to session in Albany.

I have signed a letter, with my fellow local elected officials, addressed to

DOE requesting that the date for submission of the rezoning plan before the
CEC awaiting approval be delayed until adequate time for community
participation in the process has been provided.
For these parents and families sitting in this room and those parents outside
this room we must come together and demonstrate the love that we have for
our children in order to build this school and make it a uniquely special place
for all children who desire the will and the need to love learning - and not
what it is perceived to be.
We must cut through the historical and economic lines that seek to ensnare
this conversation, holding our communities back from progressing. Let us use
this time we asked for to engage the DOE and one another; not as residents of
Vinegar Hill, DUMBO, or Farragut Houses, but as parents, who only want to
see their children succeed, reach their goals and eventually become productive
citizens.
The New York City public school system is an institution where, no matter
your income, your child should be entitled to a sound and decent education
from grades K-12. In recent decades, the city education system has not always
lived up to that creed which is why we are gathered here today to engage the
process and to protect the rights of all voices. As an elected representative, it
is my responsibility to re-enforce, protect, and preserve that right in the face
of an alarming push towards redefining what is public education?
In closing, I pledge to you all my continuous involvement in any and all issues
that impact my constituents. I will continue to fight for a fair and equitable
public education system in Albany and will monitor this proposed rezoning
issue, and will extend my services in any way I can in this process.
I would like to thank you and the members of this community for the
opportunity to testify before you tonight. Good evening and get home safely.