Weapons of Mass Destruction: Bloomberg Robs Public Schools to Pay Charters

While Bloomberg cuts DYCD funds to vital after-school programs, under the radar he is diverting those SAME funds to charter schools. To me this is OUTRAGEOUS and I haven't been able to find any press about it. For the 2012-2013 school year alone, DYCD gave $2.4 million to charter schools. In the 2010-2011 school year, DYCD gave $2.8 million to charter schools... Lorna Feeney

The press will ignore the real weapons of mass destruction story. This came in from Brooklyn parent activist Lorna Feeney based on work done by Leonie back in December. The press monitors Leonie's listserve but it takes a public school parent to do the digging.

I did some investigating on the issue you raised last December (below) and discovered something shocking. For the past few years, the DYCD has been granting start-up funds to charter schools.

So while Bloomberg cuts DYCD funds to vital after-school programs, under the radar he is diverting those SAME funds to charter schools. To me this is OUTRAGEOUS and I haven't been able to find any press about it.

Here's what I have found:

-- These funds are NOT for charter schools that have or are planning to offer after-school programs. They are for new schools to help fund their first year of operations.

-- It is also NOT going to exclusively new start-up schools. Icahn, KIPP, and Girls Prep have been granted funds. And Eva Moskowitz's Success Academy — with its 50% hike in management fees and millions in the bank — has hungrily fed at the trough, taking $347,000 last year to open her 3 new schools in Brooklyn. In the latest round of proposals that she submitted for the 6 schools planned for the 2014-2015 school year, she is budgeting in $600,000 of revenue from DYCD.

-- For the 2012-2013 school year alone, DYCD gave $2.4 million to charter schools.

-- In the 2010-2011 school year, DYCD gave $2.8 million to charter schools.

I have documentation for these findings if anyone would like to see. You can also search the City Record to see past awards here: http://a856-internet.nyc.gov/nycvendoronline/vendorsearch/asp/StartSearchArchive.asp

Regards,
Lorna

 Below is the original post by Leonie in very raw form. Just in case someone in the press wants to do a real story.



> Not sure who is covering the costs; it seems like the charters are paying
> DycD for these programs; but then it also says the following:
>
>
>
> ¡ÈNew York City has committed funding for the specific purpose of providing
> monies for opening and initial operation of the 27 Charter Schools that have
> been certified by the New York
>
> State Board of Regents.¡É
>
>
>
> perhaps someone w/ a better eye for reading contracts can figure this out.
>
>
>
> THE CITY RECORD
>
> http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/downloads/pdf/cityrecord/cityrecord-3-2-11.pdf
>
>
>
> VOLUME CXXXVIII NUMBER 41 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2011
>
>
>
> YOUTH AND COMMUNITY
>
> DEVELOPMENT
>
> ¢£ INTENT TO AWARD
>
> Human/Client Services
>
>
>
> CHARTER SCHOOLS - Negotiated Acquisition -
>
> DUE 03-11-11 at 5:00 P.M. - CHARTER SCHOOLS -
>
> Negotiated Acquisition -
>
>
>
> DUE 03-11-11 at 5:00 P.M. - In accordance with Section 3-04
>
> (d) of the Procurement Policy Board Rules, the Department of
>
> Youth and Community Development (DYCD) intend to enter
>
> into contract negotiations with the providers listed below to
>
> operate the New York City Charter Schools. The term of the
>
> contract shall be for a twelve month period from 9/1/10 -
>
> 6/30/11.
>
>
>
>
>
> Achievement First North Crown Heights Charter School
>
> 510 Waverly Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238
>
> PIN#: 2600112242 - Amount: $116,688
>
>
>
> Bedford Stuyvesant New Beginnings Charter School
>
> 111 Broadway, Suite 604, Brooklyn, NY 10006
>
> PIN#: 2600112243 - Amount: $129,200
>
>
>
> Bronx Success Academy Charter School 1
>
> 34 West 118th Street, 2nd Fl., New York, NY
>
> PIN#: 2600112244 - Amount: $121,380
>
>
>
> Bronx Success Academy Charter School 2
>
> 34 West 118th Street, 2nd Fl., New York, NY
>
> PIN#: 2600112245 - Amount: $121,380
>
>
>
> Brooklyn Dreams Charter School
>
> 259 Parkville Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230
>
> PIN#: 2600112246 - Amount: $127,636
>
>
>
> Bushwick Ascend Charter School
>
> 205 Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11212
>
> PIN#: 2600112247 - Amount: $131,155
>
>
>
> Challenge Preparatory Charter School
>
> 1414 Central Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY 1169
>
> PIN#: 2600112248 - Amount: $97,920
>
>
>
> Crown Heights Collegiate Charter School
>
> 1137 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233
>
> PIN#: 2600112249 - Amount: $81,498
>
> Cultural Arts Academy Charter School at Spring Creek
>
> 1400 Linden Blvd., Brooklyn, NY 11212
>
> PIN#: 2600112250 - Amount: $97,920
>
> Democracy Preparatory Harlem Charter School
>
> 207 West 133rd Street, New York, NY 10030
>
> PIN#: 2600112251 - Amount: $98,844
>
> Dr. Richard Izquierdo Health and Science Charter School
>
> 1065 Southern Blvd., Bronx, NY 10459
>
> PIN#: 2600112252 - Amount: $98,844
>
> East New York Collegiate Charter School
>
> 51 Christopher Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212
>
> PIN#: 2600112253 - Amount: $81,498
>
> Harlem Success Academy Charter School 5
>
> 34 West 118th Street, 2nd Fl., New York, NY
>
> PIN#: 2600112254 - Amount: $121,380
>
> Hyde Leadership Charter School-Brooklyn
>
> 111 Broadway, Suite 604, Brooklyn, NY 10006
>
> PIN#: 2600112255 - Amount: $102,612
>
> Imagine Me Leadership Charter School
>
> 818 Schenck Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11207
>
> PIN#: 2600112256 - Amount: $100,266
>
> Inwood Academy for Leadership Charter School
>
> 111 Broadway, Suite 604, Brooklyn, NY 10006
>
> PIN#: 2600112257 - Amount: $90,100
>
> Kingsbridge Innovative Design Charter School (KIDS)
>
> 2669 Briggs Avenue, Bronx, NY 10458
>
> PIN#: 2600112258 - Amount: $109,650
>
> Leadership Prep Brownsville Charter School
>
> 1137 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233
>
> PIN#: 2600112259 - Amount: $107,695
>
> Lefferts Garden Charter School
>
> 247 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, NY 11225
>
> PIN#: 2600112260 - Amount: $109,650
>
> Metropolitan Lighthouse Charter School
>
> 1001 Intervale Avenue, Bronx, NY 10459
>
> PIN#: 2600112261 - Amount: $104,958
>
> New Hope Academy Charter School
>
> 111 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
>
> PIN#: 2600112262 - Amount: $116,688
>
> New World Preparatory Charter School
>
> 111 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
>
> PIN#: 2600112263 - Amount: $106,375
>
> New York French American Charter School
>
> 310 West 72nd Street, New York, NY 10023
>
>
>
> Lefferts Garden Charter School
>
> 247 Lincoln Road, Brooklyn, NY 1122535-59 81
>
>
>
> Etc. Street, Jackson Heights, NY 1137
>
> PIN#: 2600112265 - Amount: $98,500
>
> Riverton Street Charter School
>
> 118-34 Riverton Street, Jamaica, NY 11412
>
> PIN#: 2600112266 - Amount: $127,636
>
> Rochdale Early Advantage Charter School
>
> 122-05 Smith Street, Jamaica, NY 11434
>
> PIN#: 2600112267 - Amount: $77,588
>
> Staten Island Community Charter School
>
> 111 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
>
> PIN#: 2600112268 - Amount: $90,100
>
>
>
> DYCD is empowered by the City Charter ¡ø 733 to initiate and
>
> coordinate youth programs sponsored by agencies of New
>
> York City and responsible private organizations which seek
>
> to prevent delinquency and to advance moral, physical,
>
> mental and social well being of youth through dispersing the
>
> available city, state and federal funds to programs.
>
>
>
> New York City has committed funding for the specific purpose of
>
> providing monies for opening and initial operation of the 27
>
> Charter Schools that have been certified by the New York
>
> State Board of Regents.
>
>
>
> Use the following address unless otherwise specified in
>
> notice, to secure, examine or submit bid/proposal documents,
>
> vendor pre-qualification and other forms; specifications/
>
> blueprints; other information; and for opening and reading of
>
> bids at date and time specified above.
>
> Department of Youth and Community Development,
>
> Procurement Office, 156 William Street, NYC 10038.
>
> Valentin Lopez (212) 676-8246; Fax: (212) 676-8129,
>
> Vlopez@...
>
>
>
>
>
> http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/downloads/pdf/cityrecord/cityrecord-5-10-12.pdf
>
>
>
>
>
>
> THE CITY RECORD
>
> THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012
>
>
>
> YOUTH AND COMMUNITY
>
> DEVELOPMENT
>
>
>
> ¢£ PUBLIC HEARINGS
>
> SHORT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Contract
>
> Public Hearing will be held on Wednesday, May 16, 2012, 156
>
> William Street, 2nd Floor Auditorium, Borough of
>
> Manhattan, commencing at 10:00 A.M on the following:
>
>
>
> IN THE MATTER OF the eight (8) proposed contracts
>
> between the Department of Youth and Community
>
> Development and the contractors detailed below, for the
>
> operation of New York City Charter Schools which seek to
>
> prevent delinquency and to advance the moral, physical,
>
> mental and social well being of youth, Citywide. The
>
> providers, contract amounts, and PIN numbers are indicated
>
> below. The term of these contracts shall be from July 1, 2011
>
> through June 30, 2012, and shall contain no options to renew.
>
>
>
> CONTRACTOR
>
> 1. Brooklyn Success Academy Charter School 1
>
> 70 Tompkins Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11206
>
> Amount $125,290 PIN Number 260120002270¡Ç
>
>
>
> 2. Broome Street Academy Charter High School
>
> 121 Avenue Of The Americas, Manhattan, NY 10013
>
> Amount $103,250 PIN Number 260120002271
>
>
>
> Explore Excel Charter School
>
> 1077 Remsen Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11236
>
> Amount $144,840 PIN Number 260120002273
>
> 4. Innovate Manhattan Charter School
>
> 52 Chambers Street, Manhattan, NY 10007
>
> Amount $117,450 PIN Number 260120002275
>
> 5. New Visions Charter High School for Advanced Math and
>
> Science, 99 Terrace View Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463
>
> Amount $110,375 PIN Number 260120002277
>
> 6. New Visions Charter High School for the Humanities
>
> 99 Terrace View Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463
>
> Amount $110,375 PIN Number 260120002278
>
> 7. Teaching Firms of America-Professional Preparatory
>
> Charter School, 616 Quincy Street, Brooklyn, NY 11221
>
> Amount $102,612 PIN Number 260120002280
>
> 8. Upper West Success Academy Charter School
>
> 145 West 84 Street, Manhattan, NY 10024
>
> Amount $122,944 PIN Number 260120002281
>
> The proposed contractor was selected by means of the
>
> Negotiated Acquisition process pursuant to Section 3-04 of
>
> the Procurement Policy Board Rules.
>
>
>
> Drafts of the contracts may be inspected at the Department
>
> of Youth and Community Development, Office of the ACCO,
>
> 156 William Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10038 on
>
> business days between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M.,
>
> from May 10, 2012 to May 16, 2012, excluding weekends and
>
> holidays.
>
>
>
> Anyone who wishes to speak at this public hearing should
>
> request to do so in writing. The written request must be
>
> received by the Agency within 5 days after publication of this
>
> notice. Written requests to speak should be sent to Mr.
>
> Valentin Lopez, Deputy Agency Chief Contracting Officer,
>
> 156 William Street, 2nd Floor, New
>