Dear PS 217 Parents,
In our mission and vision statement, the PS 217 Parents Association vows to promote fairness and equity in our school community. We also advocate for practices and policies that treat families of all racial, cultural and religious backgrounds equitably, and make the school an anti-racist institution. Especially now, this work extends outside the boundaries of the school building. We need to raise our voices against racism and racial violence in our society.
We condemn police violence and racism in all its forms.
We stand with all who are speaking out and acting against injustice.
Additionally, you may have heard that the Mayor is making billion dollar cuts to the school budget for next year – in addition to cuts to youth jobs, afterschool programs, housing, healthcare, programs for elders and other essential services. We believe the mayor should redirect a portion of the NYPD budget toward schools and youth services. Without this crucial funding NYC schoolchildren will lose out even more than they already have.
Please insist on change by contacting your elected officials (contact list below). Here is a link to a letter writing campaign from Alliance For Quality Education that lets you send a message directly to Mayor de Blasio telling him to invest in our schools!
Here also is a resource list we’ve pulled together that we hope is helpful as you decide how to discuss these issues with your kids.
Also, we hope you will join us for a gathering in support of fully funding NYC schools this Thursday at 3pm in front of PS 217 at the corner of Newkirk Ave and Coney Island Ave. Please wear masks and practice social distancing. Bring your signs, drums, noisemakers so that we can chant and be visible! Hope to see you there.
Sincerely,
PS 217 Parents Association
Contact Info for Elected Officials
Assembly Member Robert C. Carroll, Assembly District 44
District Office
416 Seventh Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Phone: 718-788-7221
Fax: 718-965-9378
Website and Online Contact Form: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/
Council Member Mathieu Eugene, New York City Council District 40
District Office
900 Rogers Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11226
Phone: 718-287-8762
Fax: 718-287-8917
Website: https://council.nyc.gov/
Council Speaker Corey Johnson
224 West 30th St, Suite 1206
New York, NY 10001
212-564-7757 phone
212-564-7347 fax
SpeakerJohnson@council.nyc.gov
Education Chair Mark Treyger
Coney Island:
445 Neptune Avenue
Community Room 2C
Brooklyn, NY 11224
718-373-9673 phone
718-373-0195 fax
MTreyger@council.nyc.gov