NY1 Exclusive: Long Island City High School Community In Uproar Over Scheduling Debacle
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Students, teachers and parents alike in Queens' Long Island City High School community are increasingly frustrated by a scheduling mess that’s left some academic careers in peril. NY1’s Lindsey Christ filed the following report.On parent teacher conference night at Long Island City High School, parents didn't know who to talk to about their kids thanks to extensive changes to their class schedules.
“All my teachers got changed. New times, new schedule,” said one student.
“It feels like the first day of school again, and it's not fair,” said another.
The principal met with parents in the auditorium, saying she takes full responsibility for the mess. Several parents want her out.
“She should leave the job. She is not the person to be handling the school,” said one parent.
In part, the principal blamed an unexpected drop in enrollment, but teachers cite other issues, including many students not getting required science courses.
“For two months I didn't have science at all, so I'm worried about that, ‘cause I have to take the Regents this year and I don't know if I am going to be able to take it now,” said one student.
Long Island City is on the state's list of persistently low-achieving schools. The city is spending about $5 million in federal funds to try to turn it around, but problems endure.
Last month, a student was stabbed. Four others were arrested for gang assault. On Monday, the school got another C on its progress report.
Students say the schedule changes mean the work they did the past two months won't count. Teachers told NY1 that getting to know a whole new group of students sets them back weeks.
“We're losing a lot of time trying to get back on track,” said one student.
Teachers told NY1 that the new schedules leave students with several periods between classes and fights have broken out with so many of them hanging out.
One teacher described the schedule given to a freshman that includes four classes starting at 7:45 a.m. and going until 4:15 p.m. with six periods off in-between.
“I was going to talk to my guidance counselor today about transferring because I’m not happy about what they did to me, and I’m scared about my education here,” said one student.
Students say many of them walked out of the building in frustration Wednesday, and some didn't come back Thursday.