Truancy Center in Flatbush? Unacceptable!

NEWS FROM

ASSEMBLYMAN DOV HIKIND

September 6, 2012

Contact: Yehudah Meth                                                       For Immediate Release

718-853-9616 (office)

HIKIND OUTRAGED BY D.O.E. TRUANCY CENTER PLANNED FOR FLATBUSH

“NOT A WORD TO ANYONE? IT’S OUTRAGEOUS AND UNNACCEPTABLE!”

WEINSTEIN, JACOBS AND NELSON JOIN OUTCRY

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) is furious about a new Truancy Processing Center planned to open next door to a girl’s yeshiva in Flatbush. The Department of Education admitted today that they’ve been planning to open a center for truant juveniles at its Administrative Building located at 1780 Ocean Avenue. Word of the new Truancy Center, which would open just two doors from the Shaare Torah Girls High School, leaked out to anxious residents who immediately contacted Assemblyman Hikind.

“This news has caused concerned parents enormous anxiety and fear,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “Shaare Torah alone educates nearly 150 young girls; it’s just one of many yeshivas in the neighborhood. There are numerous children attending private schools in this community—schools that have worked hard to create a protective environment for their students. Their safety is our primary concern.

“What is equally shocking is that the Department of Education was going ahead with these plans without a single word to the community or its elected officials. No notification regarding this Truancy Center was given to anyone in our community. Residents are entitled to a say in matters that can so deeply impact the character of our community, to say nothing of the safety and well-being of our children.”

Assembly Members Helene Weinstein and Rhoda Jacobs, as well as City Councilman Mike Nelson echoed Assemblyman Hikind’s shock at being kept in the dark about the DOE’s plans. All three lawmakers agreed with Hikind that a Truancy Center would be detrimental to Flatbush residents and vowed to fight the poorly planned project.

 In a letter to Dennis M. Walcott, Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education, Assemblyman Hikind spelled out the reasons for the community’s apprehension. “There are no statistics regarding how many truant youth the city plans to process, and there are deep concerns regarding where these truant children will go and how they will behave when they are not within the confines of the proposed Center,” said the Assemblyman who plans to address the issue in person with the Chancellor along with his fellow lawmakers.