All this week, NY1 has taken a unique, behind-the-scenes look at one of the major schools the city wants to close. The city says shutting down Paul Robeson is the best solution to the many problems plaguing the Brooklyn high school. But as NY1's Education reporter Lindsey Christ shows in her final report, the city still has no answer to the fundamental question -- who is ready to do a better job for Robeson's struggling students?
The Panel for Educational Policy's vote on Tuesday to close Paul Robeson High School and 20 other schools in September will be seen LIVE on NY1.
"If students make that choice to cut class or stay home when their school is a few blocks away, I don't understand the reasoning of sending on them on a train further to get them to go to school," said Robeson student Victor Rodriquez.
There are more than 1,000 students at Robeson, and while the city says there are other Brooklyn high schools with space, teachers wonder if those schools will be willing to take all the students with special needs who now go to Robeson.
Education officials say they eventually plan to replace the school but they are not going to rush.
"We want to take the coming year to work with the community here to create a new school that gives all of our children great opportunities," said Deputy School Chancellor Kathleen Grimm.
Meanwhile, a block away, other children will be getting a great opportunity right away at a brand new high school building that will be ready in September. It's just for charter schools and will only be open to students who were in charter middle schools.
The construction project is being overseen by a team that includes Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s daughter, Emma, whose employer, the Robin Hood Foundation, split the cost of the multi-million dollar building with the city.
