Self-interested administrators at PS 24

There have been several sensationalized stories recently published in the press and I feel that my constituents deserve to know the facts.  What follows is a chronology of recent events surrounding the Spuyten Duyvil School (P.S. 24). 

In the fall of 2014, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and I learned that negotiations regarding the P.S. 24 annex lease renewal between the Whitehall and the School Construction Authority (SCA) were breaking down. We relayed this information to then-principal Donna Connelly, to Assistant Principal Manny Verdi and to some of the officers of the Parent Association (PA). Principal Connelly told us that lease renewals are not under a principal’s purview and that it is the job of the SCA to negotiate the lease. The PA officers supported that position. The Assemblyman and I were concerned and reached out to the SCA. We were then asked by the SCA to not interfere because they were concerned that our involvement would undermine their negotiating position. 

Principal Connelly and Assistant Principal Verdi should not have hesitated to rally the community to fight for the annex. Under their tenure, the school has grown by a third and has far surpassed maximum capacity. P.S. 24 now enrolls over 1,000 students, although capacity for the school is only approximately 600 students. According to the latest census data, there has been some growth in the number of school age children covering all of the 10463 ZIP code, but not in the area specifically zoned for P.S. 24. In these last few months, numerous parents have approached me with class lists containing out-of-zone children who come from all over the Bronx, as well as northern Manhattan and even Yonkers. Now, with the loss of the 150-seat annex, we do not have the capacity for all of the zoned students and we should not be admitting out-of-zone students.

In further demonstration of Principal Connelly’s leadership skills, on a Friday evening in October, as news of the loss of the annex spread and in the aftermath of “Deskgate,” Principal Connelly turned off the lights and never returned to the school. Assistant Principal Verdi said they are being scapegoated, but to just walk out on the children in the face of a crisis is inexcusable. 

Not only are we are now faced with a space crisis, P.S. 24 is also desperately in need of permanent leadership. It is important to note that Acting Interim Principal Andrea Feldman has done her best under extremely difficult circumstances and deserves our gratitude. In January of this year, the district superintendent commenced a search for a new principal. The principal hiring process is commonly referred to as the C-30 process. It is my understanding that the C-30 process for appointing a permanent P.S. 24 principal is currently stalled while the Department of Education investigates objections to the process made by Assistant Principal Verdi. In the absence of a permanent principal, it is impossible to devise a long-term solution to the space problems.

Principal Connelly and Assistant Principal Verdi have repeatedly put their own personal interests ahead of the students. It is too late for Principal Connelly to redeem herself, but Assistant Principal Verdi has the opportunity to withdraw his personal objections and allow the C-30 process to proceed. The need for steady leadership and the future of P.S. 24 is more important than one individual’s job security and career.

Finally, I want to address Randi Martos’ presence at kindergarten registration. First, it is not unusual for parents to volunteer to help at registration. Randi Martos is an alumnus of the school, as well as a past president of the PA. Secondly, at a meeting with high ranking staff members of the Department of Education including a deputy chancellor, the district superintendent, Acting Interim Principal Feldman and Assistant Principal Verdi and many others present, an invitation was extended to Randi Martos inviting her to registration.  Mr. Verdi did not raise any objection at that meeting. At registration, Ms. Martos did not look at any health records and she never worked alone. Both Ms. Feldman and Mr. Verdi knew Ms. Martos was present and no objection was raised. Ms. Feldman greeted Ms. Martos every day that she was present and thanked her for her help. 

It isn’t simply that Mr. Verdi is exploiting every possible avenue to retain a position he was neither qualified for nor competent in. It’s more of the fact that he is now, by deliberately delaying the C-30 process, actively harming the very children whose interests and education it is his responsibility to uphold. Mr. Verdi needs to go.

Andrew Cohen is the councilman for the 11th district, which includes Kingsbridge, Riverdale and Van Cortlandt Village.