Updated 02/28/2011 11:00 PM
DOE To Keep Brooklyn's PS 114 Open
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Parents, students, and teachers are celebrating after the city's Department of Education announced Monday it has decided to keep PS 114 in Brooklyn open.
Advocates for the Canarsie school gathered to protest ahead of Tuesday's planned Panel for Educational Policy vote on the school's closure. Instead, they got the welcome news that the DOE ruled in the school's favor after receiving positive feedback from the community and local leaders.
Schools Chancellor Cathie Black says education officials will come up with a plan to give PS 114 an opportunity for success.
"I feel really happy because my school isn't closing. I love this school," said PS 114 Student Q-tiye Clarke.
"I'm so happy that I'm at this school because I get to learn more and experience more," said PS 114 Student Tiyesha Best.
"It would be really hurtful to me if this school closed. That's why from the beginning to the end I've been here, all the time. I never lost faith," said PS 114 Parent Rose Soifils.
The Department of Education wanted to close the school because of poor performance.
Supporters of the school, including Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, rallied against the closure.
They said PS 114 only had one year of bad scores, due to a former principal who allegedly mismanaged funds.
They said the DOE ignored their pleas to remove her.
De Blasio says Monday's decision is a "major victory" and that he looks forward to working with parents, faculty and the city to help turn the school around.