More than 600 students, parents, teachers, elected officials and community members from a Staten Island shore neighborhood still recovering from Hurricane Sandy packed a Community Education Council meeting at IS 2 on Sept. 16 to slam plans to have a new district middle school share the school’s building starting next fall.

The Department of Education determined that IS 2’s Progress Report grades and standardized test scores required offering the community “a choice” between the two schools that, combined, will serve the same number and population of students. But angry speakers blamed declining funding and obstacles from Sandy for stalling IS 2’s improvement and feel the DOE’s plan is disrespectful and unnecessary.

“Where else is the DOE targeting a school so severely impacted by Sandy?” CEC member Mike Reilly charged. “It’s like kicking the school when it’s down and struggling to get back up.”

Some students who spoke wondered why the nearly $160,000 in start-up money the new school would receive couldn’t be used to update IS 2’s technology, buy some basketballs or hire teachers to reduce class sizes.

“Two schools sharing the same auditorium, cafeteria, library and gymnasium is going to be a logistical nightmare,” IS 2 Chapter Leader Mark Zink said. “And paying for two administrations in the same building is a waste of taxpayers’ money.”

IS 2’s students were temporarily relocated after the hurricane nearly a year ago and, though they were able to return, the school has had electrical problems, a downed phone and public address system, and a destroyed boiler.

IS 2 was unable to utilize the School of One mathematics program brought in last year to improve student performance since the hurricane knocked out Internet service, according to teachers.

The temporary boiler in use now “gives one half of the building too much heat and the other half none,” said UFT Staten Island Borough Representative Debra Penny. The PA and phones were finally fixed the week that students returned to class this fall.

The District 31 CEC invited two DOE employees to its meeting to explain to the community why Tweed is choosing to move a new IS 12 into the building. IS 2, which has nearly 900 students, would serve 390 to 420 students in grades 6-8, while IS 12 would enroll 510 to 540 from the same grades.

“This will allow each administration to focus on a smaller cohort of students,” said Emily Ades of the DOE Division of Portfolio Planning, “which is important especially at the middle school level.”

Ades said parents of students zoned for the building could enroll in the school of their choice.

Speaker after speaker trashed the idea.

“The DOE must have candidates in the principals’ academy who need to find jobs,” UFT District 31 Representative Sean Rotkowitz speculated. “That’s the only reason I can see for this happening.”

Several parents noted that the school cut its drama program and also no longer offers Italian because of budget cuts caused by the Fair Student Funding formula the DOE employs. IS 2 is down 85 students since the storm.

“Clearly, fair funding is not fair,” said IS 2 school psychologist Mark Zozula.

At one point, students carrying signs circled the auditorium several times chanting “IS 2! IS 2!”

Signatures were collected on a hard-copy petition at the meeting and 1,000 more had already been collected on Facebook. Community members planned to return for a hearing on Oct. 3. The city’s Panel for Educational Policy, which is controlled by the mayor, will vote on the proposal on Oct. 15 at the Prospect Heights Campus in Brooklyn.

“It is quite clear and obvious to me that the choice of this community is no,” CEC 31 President Sam Pirozzolo said.