October(23,(2016(

(
Community(Education(Council(District(3((
154(West(93rd(Street(
New(York,(NY((10025(
(
Dear(Members(of(Community(Education(Council(District(3(("CEC"),(
(
We(are(writing(in(response(to(your(letter((the("Plan")(to(The(Honorable(Carmen(Farina,(dated(October(
18,(2016,(in(which(the(CEC(presented(a(rezoning(and(resiting(plan(to(the(Department(of(Education((the(
"DOE").((Remarkably,(the(CEC(requests(that(the(DOE(present(the(Plan(back(to(the(CEC(for(approval(as(
soon(as(possible.((This(goes(beyond(the(scope(of(the(CEC's(responsibility(and(authority.(((
(
It( is( the( DOE( that( is( bestowed( with( the( authority( and( responsibility( to( make( proposals( to( the( CEC( for(
review,(comment(and(ultimate(vote.((Yet,(as(Joe(Fiordaliso,(President(of(the(CEC,(stated,(it(is(the(CEC's(
"position(that(this(is(THE$plan,(and([the(DOE](can(either(stand(with(us(or(not"(and("CEC(determined(to(
lay( down( the( marker".( ( ( Parent' Group' Seeks' More' Integration' in' New' York's' Schools,( The( New( York(
Times,(October(19,(2016((emphasis(added).((By(the(Plan,(which(the(proponents(thereof(clearly(intend(to(
be(the'ultimate'plan(voted(upon(in(the(coming(weeks,(the(CEC((i)(violated(the(Open(Meetings(Law((as(
defined(below),(and((ii)(proposed(a(plan(that(is(against(the(best(interests(of(District(3(and(fails(to(satisfy(
the(DOE's(and(CEC's(goals(of(addressing(the(overcrowding(and(diversity(challenges(faced(by(the(District.(
(
The(CEC(Violated(the(Open(Meetings(Law(
(
As( you( are( aware,( the( CEC's( responsibilities( in( connection( with( the( potential( rezoning( of( District( 3(
elementary( schools( and( the( potential( resiting( of( P.S.( 452( are( limited( to( (i)( approving( zoning( lines,( as(
presented(by(the(superintendant(,(and((ii)(holding(joint(public(hearings(with(the(chancellor((or(designee)(
for( any( proposed( school( closing( or( significant( change( in( school( utilization.( ( See'
http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/CEC/RolesandResponsibilities/default.htm.' ' The( CEC( does( not( have(
authority(to(dictate(to(the(DOE(the(terms(upon(which(it(will(properly(consider(a(proposal(from(the(DOE``
the(only(government(agency(with(authority(to(make(rezoning(and/or(resiting(proposals``nor(does(it(have(
the( authority( to( hijack( the( proposal( process( by( telling( the( DOE( that( they( can( either( "stand( with( us( or(
not,"(particularly(when(the(District(is(already(challenged(by(significant(overcrowding(and(diversity(issues,(
and(is(expected(to(have(an(empty(building(to(be(filled(for(2017(enrollment.((Under(these(circumstances,(
there( is( no( dispute( that( time( is( of( the( essence( for( a( rational( and( acceptable( plan( to( be( proposed( and(
implemented.( ( Everyone( agrees( that( any( plan( adopted( must( serve( the( best( interests( of( District( 3( by(
addressing(overcrowding,(diversity(and(ensuring(successful(schools.((However,(the(concern(that(this(be(
done( expeditiously( does( not( supersede( the( requirements( that( such( decision`making( process( comply(
with(applicable(law.(
(
On(page(4(of(the(Plan,(the(CEC(purports(to(be(guided(by,(among(other(things,(transparency.((The(CEC,(
however,(failed(to(provide(transparency(in(crafting(the(Plan(and(urging(the(DOE(to(present(this(Plan(back(
to(its(own(drafters(for(guaranteed(approval.((Public(Officers(Law,(Article(7((the("Open(Meetings(Law"),(
Section(103(a)(requires(that("every(meeting(of(a(public(body(shall(be(open(to(the(general(public,(except(
that( an( executive( session( of( such( body( may( be( called( and( business( transacted( thereat( in( accordance(
with(section(one(hundred(five(of(this(article."((The(CEC's(decision(to(prepare(and(propose(to(the(DOE(the(
wide`ranging( and( important( policy( decision( reflected( in( the( Plan,( which( "an( overwhelming( majority( of(
the(Council(supports,"(was(not(made(in(an(open(meeting,(subject(to(public(comment(and(then(ratified(

by(the(mandated(public(roll(call(vote,(as(required(by(the(Open(Meetings(Law(and(the(Bylaws((as(defined(
below).( ( There( is( no( public( record( of( such( a( vote.( ( ( Thus,( such( vote( was( unlawful( as( it( was( neither(
conducted( at( a( public( meeting( nor( pursuant( to( a( properly( conducted( Executive( Session,( as( defined( in(
Open(Meetings(Law,(Section(102.((And,(if(no(vote(was(taken,(and(the(decisions(to(formulate(and(propose(
the(Plan(were(made(unilaterally(by(certain(members(of(the(CEC,(such(action(was(similarly(unlawful.(((
(
In( an( effort( to( obfuscate( the( procedural( improprieties( in( the( decision`making( process,( the( CEC( has(
characterized( this( significant( policy`making( decision( as( a( letter.( ( The( eleven( page( communication,(
however,( is,( in( substance,( a( draft( educational( impact( statement( that( reflects( a( decision( by( the( CEC( of(
considerable(magnitude(regarding(school(moves(and(rezoning.((Regardless(of(what(the(CEC(would(like(to(
call( it,( the( substance( of( the( Plan( is( a( major( policy( making( decision;( a( "letter,"( it( is( not,( formatting(
notwithstanding.(
(
Pursuant(to(Article(III,(Section(6(of(the(Bylaws(of(Communication(Council(for(District(3(Approved(by(the(
Membership(on(July(28,(2004(and(Amended(by(the(Membership(on(January(18,(2012((the("Bylaws"),(the(
CEC(may(hold(Executive(Sessions("as(needed(to(discuss(matters(that(by(law((Open(Meetings(Law,(Section(
105)( are( permitted( to( be( discussed( in( a( confidential( session( closed( to( the( public.( ( Decisions( shall( be(
made(by(the(majority(of(the(whole(number(of(the(members(of(the(Council,(shall(be(recorded(by(roll(call(
vote,(and(shall(be(ratified(at(a(calendar(meeting."((To(the(extent(the(CEC(made(its(determination(to(draft(
and(propose(the(Plan(to(the(DOE(in(an(Executive(Session(on(a(confidential(basis,(such(a(meeting(was(in(
violation(of(the(Open(Meetings(law(as(a(discussion(and(determination(regarding(rezoning(and/or(resiting(
does(not(fall(within(the(approved(matters(for(which(Executive(Sessions(may(be(conducted(in(accordance(
with( Open( Meetings( Law,( Section( 105,( nor( did( it( satisfy( any( of( the( exemptions( for( the( limitations( on(
conducting(an(Executive(Session,(as(provided(by(Open(Meetings(Law,(Section(108.((
(
"The(people's(right(to(know(the(process(of(governmental(decision`making(and(to(review(the(documents(
and(statistics(leading(to(determinations(is(basic(to(our(society.((Access(to(such(information(should(not(be(
thwarted(by(shrouding(it(with(the(cloak(of(secrecy(or(confidentiality."(((Public(Officers(Law,(Article(6((the(
"Freedom( of( Information( Law"),( Section( 84.( ( Consequently,( the( manner( in( which( the( CEC( deliberated(
and(determined(to(craft(the(Plan(and(propose(it(to(the(DOE(was(in(express(violation(of(both(the(Open(
Meetings(Law(and(the(CEC's(own(Bylaws.((Such(unlawful(conduct(undermines(the(integrity(of(the(entire(
process(District(3(has(endured(on(this(specific(rezoning/resiting(issue(for(the(last(six(months(and(will(not(
be(tolerated.(((
(
Furthermore,( should( the( DOE( resubmit( THE( Plan,( or( a( substantially( similar( plan,( as( urged( by( the( CEC,(
such(action(will(serve(to(condone(and(exacerbate(the(tainted(integrity(of(the(process(and(the(violations(
of( the( Open( Meetings( Law( by( rendering( the( public( hearings( and( vote( moot,( as( the( CEC( has( already(
decided( on( the( Plan( and( publicly( communicated( its( approval( thereof( by( stating( on( page( 5( of( the( Plan(
that,("an(overwhelming(majority(of(the(Council(supports(this(plan."(
(
Freedom(of(Information(Law(Requests(
(
Accordingly,(pursuant(to(the(Freedom(of(Information(Law,(Section(87,(we(hereby(request(that(the(CEC(
make( publicly( available( on( the( CEC's( website( the( following( information( pursuant( to( the( Freedom( of(
Information(Law:(
(
(1)((((any(and(all(records,(including,(but(not(limited(to,(emails(and(texts,(in(connection(with(the(
(
Plan(by(and(among(CEC(members(and/or(each(of(the(following:(
(
(
(a)(Mayor(Bill(DeBlasio(and/or(members(of(his(staff;((
(

2(

(
(
(b)(Chancellor(Carmen(Farina;(
(
(
(c)((Deputy(Chancellor(Elizabeth(Rose;((
(
(
(d)(Ilene(Altschul,(District(3(Superintendant;(
(
(
(e)(any(and(all(employees(and/or(representatives(of(the(DOE;(
(
(
(f)(Councilwoman(Helen(Rosenthal(and/or(members(of(her(staff;(
(
(
(g)((Manhattan(Borough(President,(Gale(Brewer(and/or(members(of(her(staff;(
(
(
(h)(State(Assemblywoman(Linda(Rosenthal(and/or(members(of(her(staff;((
(
(
(i)(any(other(state(or(city(elected(official;((
(
(
(j)((any(and(all(employees(or(representatives(of(any(New(York(city(or(state(agency;(
(
(
(k)(any(and(all(District(3(elementary(school(principals(and/or(their(staff;(
(
(
(l)((any(and(all(District(3(elementary(school(parent(teacher(association(executive(board((
(
(
members;(and(
(
(
(m)(any(and(all(District(3(Senior(Leadership(Team(("SLT")(members;(
(
(2)((any(and(all(drafts(or(prior(versions(of(the(Plan;((
(
(3)((any(and(all(data(prepared,(reviewed,(analyzed(or(relied(upon(in(connection(with(the(Plan;(
(
and(
(
(4)((any(and(all(of(the(CEC's(governing(documents,(and(any(other(policies,(guidelines(and(
(
procedures,(whether(written(or(unwritten,(formal(or(informal.(
((
Should( responses( to( these( Freedom( of( Information( Law( requests( not( be( provided( promptly,( we( will(
commence( a( proceeding( under( 2006( New( York( Code,( Article( 78( ("Article( 78")( and( seek( a( declaratory(
judgment(that(the(CEC(violated(the(Open(Meetings(Law(and(acted(outside(the(scope(of(its(authority(in(
proposing(the(Plan(to(the(DOE(in(contravention(of(the(Open(Meeting(Law.(
(
Not(Only(Was(the(Plan(Proposal(Process(Unlawful,(the(Plan(Will(Exacerbate(Overcrowding(and(Diversity(
Issues(in(District(3(
The(Plan(provides(for(a(resite(of(P.S.(452(combined(with(a(rezoning(of(the(existing(P.S.(452(zone.((Each(of(
the(currently(enrolled(P.S.(452(families(will(be(rezoned(to(either(P.S.(87,(which(will(absorb(the(majority(
of(the(existing(P.S.(452(zone(and,(to(a(lesser(extent,(P.S.((199(and(other(nearby(schools.((As(the(majority(
of(impacted(P.S.(452(parents(have(stated(at(all(of(the(public(meetings,(in(their(petition(with(over(1,000(
signatures,(and(in(hundreds(of(letters(to(the(DOE(and(other(key(constituents,(they(will(actively(explore(
alternative(school(options(for(their(children(and(will(demand(seats(in(the(newly(zoned(schools(pursuant(
to(Chancellor's(Regulation(A`101,(Article(II,(C.((These(are(not(empty(threats(as(P.S.(452(has(already(lost(at(
least( six( families( since( the( commencement( of( these( discussions( in( May( 2016( as( a( direct( result( of( the(
uncertainty( surrounding( this( pending( issue.( ( And,( this( number( excludes( families( who( were( enrolled( to(
start(kindergarten(in(the(fall(but(made(other(choices(in(light(of(the(uncertainty(of(P.S.(452's(continued(
location(at(West(77th(Street.((Of(the(six(families(who(transferred(their(children(out(of(P.S.(452(as(a(direct(
result(of(the(uncertainty(facing(their(school,(at(least(two(such(families(enrolled(in(P.S.(87(and(at(least(one(
such(family(enrolled(in(P.S.(199,(and(that(was(just(the(beginning.((The(transfer(of(currently(enrolled(P.S.(
452(students(at(P.S.(87(and(P.S.(199(will(be(in(high(demand,(and(the(schools(will(have(to(accommodate(
many,( it( not( all,( of( the( additional( newly( zoned( families,( thereby( exacerbating( their( longstanding(
overcrowding(issues(which(the(CEC(is(tasked(with(trying(to(resolve.((In(short,(the(Plan(not(only(fails(to(
satisfy(the(DOE's(and(CEC's(goals(of(eliminating(the(overcrowding(issues(in(P.S.(87,(P.S.(199(and(other(
District(3(schools,(it(exacerbates,(rather(than(alleviates,(overcrowding(at(these(specific(schools.(((
(

3(

The(Plan(Fails(to(Provide(Equity(and(Diversity(to(District(3(Elementary(Schools((
While(the(Plan(purports(to(provide(equity(and(diversity(to(District(3(elementary(schools,(in(reality,(the(
Plan( limits( integration( to( only( 3( three( schools``P.S.( 191,( P.S.( 199( and( a( resited( P.S.( 452.( ( However,( as(
noted(on(page(6(of(the(Plan,(a(resited(P.S.(452(would(be(comprised(of(69%(of(students(from(the(current(
P.S.(199(zone.((This(statistic(would(be(similar,(if(not(exact,(were(a(new(school(to(be(created(in(the(M191(
building.((Recently,(the(DOE(presented(Scenario(C(which(provided(for(the(creation(of(a(new(school(in(the(
M191( building( and( a( modification( to( the( existing( P.S.( 452( zone( to( promote( diversity( at( P.S.( 452( at( its(
current(location.((The(Plan(is(not(in(the(best(interests(of(District(3(as(it(limits(the(opportunity(to(provide(
increased(diversity(and(equity(to(District(3.((Specifically,(by(resiting(P.S.(452,(the(CEC(requests(that(the(
DOE( sacrifice( its( opportunity( to( implement( a( diversity( program( at( P.S.452( in( its( current( location``a(
program(additive(to(the(diversity(that(would(be(achieved(by(the(rezoning(proposals(for(P.S.(191((in(its(
resited(location),(P.S.(199(and(a(new(school.((This(is(a(failure(for(our(District.(
(
In( light( of( the( procedural( violations( in( deciding( to( formulate( and( propose( the( wide`ranging( and(
significant( policy( which( is( the( Plan,( we( hereby( demand( (i)( a( prompt( response( to( the( Freedom( of(
Information(Law(Requests,(and((ii)(a(prompt(retraction(of(the(Plan.((In(the(event(the(Plan(is(not(promptly(
retracted(and(is(ultimately(presented(by(the(DOE(and(favorably(voted(upon(by(the(CEC,(in(addition(to(
filing(a(proceeding(under(Article(78(for(a(declaratory(judgment,(we(will(also(file(an(Article(78(proceeding(
seeking(an(injunction(of(the(approved(Plan(as(the(CEC(has(acknowledged(that(is(has(already(voted(on(the(
Plan,( thereby( mooting( the( need( for( any( public( hearings( or( an( additional( vote( that( complies( with( the(
Open(Meetings(Law.((That(opportunity(has(already(been(missed.(
(
We(look(forward(to(receiving(your(responses(to(our(Freedom(of(Information(Law(Requests(and(a(prompt(
remedy(of(this(duplicitous(process.(
(
Sincerely,(
(
(
The(Coalition(of(District(3(Parents(
(
(

4(