Yes, the Public Schools are Oversold; Please Don't Hold Your Seat!

It is one day from D-Day for parents who still don't know where their kids are going to kindergarten in the fall. This is the last week of public school! This from one parent and child: "It just sucks. School year's over and my son keeps asking where he is going to kindergarten. We've tried to shield him from the whole process, to bear the burden ourselves of the tests, of being judged at age 4, and the visits, and the decisions. But I think he's on to us and knows we don't have an answer, and certainly not a good one."

Until this year, the Board of Ed would synchronize decisions about schools with private schools. Somewhat. By February and certainly March, parents would know where their kids were going, the dramas would unfold, tears, shed, jubilation felt, but whatever the case, your kid could be told where they were going in the fall. Kids could be walked by their 'new school'; talk about it with their fellow preschoolers. Parents could bond, new friendships made in preparation for the big day in September. That first day of 'Big Kid' Schooll.

Even if it was a decision that wasn't perfect, you as a parent had time to process it and most importantly, to help your kid get used to it and excited for September. It is the last day of public school tomorrow! Kids still don't know where they are going! Everyone is dispersing. Over is the informal ways parents and kids could deal with the enormous change about to happen. That's it, a done deal.

The Board of Ed is only now, tomorrow! Letting people know about decisions where some kids have gotten seats in schools

Where was the planning when the condos were going up in every neighborhood with 3 bedrooms? Did you not think, Mr. Bloomberg, that these multiple dwellings were going to be housing families? Families that were opting to stay in the city, pay taxes and possibly send their kids to public schools? Forget the downturn of the economy and the increased pressure on public schools, how on earth was there no thought given to the simple fact of increased pressure on the system with sheer numbers? How are we as a city, giving up our airspace to multiple condos, and not providing places to educate our kids?!

No parent could disagree with the need to protect and get the best for their child. It is understandable that parents are holding spots if they were lucky enough to get them, in sought after neighborhood schools, and highly sought after seats at schools that hold lotteries. Of course they are holding onto those seats! Everyone is waiting until tomorrow to make final decisions. The domino effect is profound. This is the most severe crunch yet.

So, my plea goes out to all those families after they make a decision based on results tomorrow. Please don't hold your seats. Inform all schools your child has a seat in, if you are not attending. Do it for the kids.

You will be giving some kid and their families the biggest gift. A summer to adjust to, whatever the result be, the school they will be attending in the fall.