Resolution on co-locations in New York City public schools

WHEREAS the New York City Department of Education (DOE) is attempting to co-locate or expand dozens of new or small schools inside existing schools, thereby taking space and facilities from students in the same buildings; and

WHEREAS the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), the Alliance for Quality Education (AQE), the Bronx Borough President, seven City Council members, five parents of public school students and several state legislators have jointly filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court opposing the DOE co-location policy, specifically with regard to charter school students being given more access to school facilities — including libraries, auditoriums and lunchrooms — than students in district schools that would share their buildings; and

WHEREAS the DOE and the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) allow such inequities to exist and flourish despite the fact that such disparities violate state laws mandating equal access to school facilities; and

WHEREAS the lawsuit asks the court to halt the co-locations/expansions unless and until the DOE obeys the laws and agreements that govern such decisions; therefore be it

RESOLVED that the UFT continue to work with fellow plaintiffs, parents, community residents, civic organizations, education advocates, clergy and others to oppose the DOE co-location policy pending a court ruling on the lawsuit; and be it further

RESOLVED that the UFT call for all schools involved in co-locations to keep class sizes under agreed upon limits; and be it further

RESOLVED that the UFT call for co-location plans to accommodate all the educational, social and programmatic needs of the schools; and be it further

RESOLVED that in co-locations involving capital improvements the UFT call for such improvements to be made to all schools in an affected building so that every student benefits; and be it further

RESOLVED that the UFT call for Community Education Councils to certify that the aforementioned criteria are met before co-location proposals ever go forward to the Panel for Educational Policy for approval; and be it further

RESOLVED that the UFT call for all staff and students to have equal access to all resources in all buildings with co-locations.