Below is a guest post from Sharon Garcia. Here is a link to her site, 
where this was originally posted: http://sgar77.blogspot.com/

An Untimely Farewell To New City Public School

As a Long Beach resident and a parent of school age children, I am very disappointed with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) for making it their mission to close New City Public School.

Principal Mrs. Stephanie Lee (left)

Although many parents of children who attended New City pleaded along with founder and Principal Mrs. Stephanie Lee and her heroic staff to fund and keep the school open, no one seemed to listen. Instead, votes against were cast by the LBUSD, Los Angeles County and finally, Sacramento, based solely on test scores. Although New City tried to show the benefits of their educational philosophy, some of which admittedly cannot be measured with data, it now appears that New City will be forced to close.

This decision gives the impression that the LBUSD, LA County and California leadership do not care about nor were they interested in our opinions, requests and concerns. They lack the ability to remove political agendas (higher test scores?) and voted against the interest of constituents. Instead of seizing the opportunity to make a statement and join all those involved, they hindered parents who fought to be part of the decision making process regarding our education system.

How can LBUSD Superintendent of Schools, Chris Steinhauser, not acknowledge that the high level of parental involvement New City had coincided with research as to the school’s teaching philosophy, agreement with the school’s methods, and was in the best interest of their children? Does Mr. Steinhauser really believe he cares more than parents?

It appears that Mr. Steinhauser and company were determined to close New City due to past API score #6. How is that possible when these scores have been obsolete for over 2 years and are now suspended?

The majority of the students in New City speak Spanish as their first language. It is therefore difficult for them to take the assessment test. However, based on extensive research by educators, kids that may perform below average at first eventually catch up, usually between the 4th and 5th grade, and then score as well if not above students who attend regular public schools.

We were aware of New City’s test scores, but our research showed that their model produces socially responsible individuals, thinkers and not just kids who learn through rote memorization for the sake of test scores. We enrolled our kids and after a year, we came to the conclusion that this was the right decision. New City instilled a love of learning, reading and books. Our 1st grader loves the library and reads well; she flourished here.

New City exposed kids to new and exciting opportunities that I fear are lacking in regular public schools. Among these are:

• Dual language program.
• Social responsibility and an appreciation for work: Kids planted flowers and other vegetable in the New City community farm.
• Be good environmental citizens: Kids marched on Earth Day to raise awareness.
• Arts: At a time when most schools are cutting back on art programs, New City students were learning how to play musical instruments and to express themselves via art projects.
• Respect: For individuals, different cultures, customs and countries.

New City Public Schools Farm

Now, we will be sending our kids to Bryant Elementary, which ironically has the same API #6 score as New City. Will they be taught to be socially responsible, thinking and independent individuals? Will they learn to get involved and make their voice heard, like they did at New City? Will they have the same supportive community that New City boasted?

With New City being shuttered, our kids will join all the kids at conventional public schools that are being taught a program that
has educators puzzled about how to effectively implement it and lacks uniformity, both in methods and results.

There’s one thing New City re-instilled in me: make my voice heard. I will therefore participate in the next LBUSD election and seek accountability for what I perceive as an unfair decision that robbed our children of a wonderful place where thinking, social and community involvement, action and awareness were placed ahead of mere test scores.

We as parents are the voice of our children.

Sharon Garcia
Long Beach Resident