An elementary school in Flushing, which received an “A” for performance from the NYC Department of Education, is opposed to a school merger proposed by the DOE.

P.S.21, located at 147-26 46th Avenue, a school with a strong Korean presence in its student body, and school parents held an urgent meeting to deal with the imminent school merger, which resulted in picketing the New York City Education Department.

On January 24, parents stood in front of the school with the picket signs that read: “STOP, I Don’t Want to Suffer! Leave My ‘A’ School Alone.” The protesters handed over a list of parent and teacher signatures to the Department of Education. Close to 96 percent of the Asian student body at P.S.21 – they make up 52 percent of the school – attended the protest.

“The Department of Education is planning to go ahead with the school merger even though many parents are protesting against it,” said PTA president Laura Del Greco.

A spokesperson for the DOE stated that it had sent official notice to P.S.21 principal Deborah Buszko, informing her “since there is usable empty space in P.S.21, we are planning a New School Initiative that will share space with your school. Please cooperate with this project.” Similar notices were sent citywide.

P.S.21 school parents are concerned that the introduction of another school to the school premises will prove a distraction to the students and negatively affect the educational environment.

“When the New School Initiative is implemented, there is a strong possibility that the space for pre-kindergarten students will be gone,” said the parents.

In response, DOE spokesperson Meloni Meyer said, “There was never anything slated for that particular school”

Not all parents are in agreement with the P.S.21 parents’ response. One parent, who posted a letter online anonymously, said, “It’s very selfish to protest against the New School Program, which could offer space for students who don’t have enough room to study.”