Midwood School With Jewish History Slated to be Replaced by a Controversial Charter School for Highly at Risk

This Monday evening, November 25, at 7:00 PM, The East Midwood Jewish Center is scheduled to introduce to the community its plan to re-purpose the school established in 1950 with Urban Dove – a Charter School that says in their mission statement that they cater to highly at risk public high school teenagers.

In 2010, the controversial school tried to get into Aviator at Floyd Bennett field, who turned them away. According to Aviator CEO Kevin McCabe, “[Urban Dove] has absolutely no support from the community,” joining a chorus of elected officials that panned the plan in 2010.

The new plan would have Urban Dove locate right in the heart of the Midwood community. Community leaders have expressed opposition to this lease that Urban Dove will drastically change our residential neighborhood for decades to come. Local Yeshivas, who are short on space, have offered to rent the building on the same terms, but the East Midwood board decided they’d rather rent to an outside Charter school.

“I don’t like the situation, and I think it’s not only bad for the homeowners but also for Murrow HS students, and not good for East Midwood either,” said a veteran NYC public school teacher who taught in a school with largely at-risk teens and is affiliated with East Midwood. “I don’t trust Urban Dove; I think they’re willing to say anything to get in.”

The Midwood community has united to convey their opposition to these new plans. With a strong community presence at this meeting they hope to convey the sentiment of the neighbors to maintaining the safety and the integrity of our neighborhood.