Construction plans for charter middle school in New York City face opposition

A proposal to construct a charter middle school in a New York City neighborhood has created conflict that has led to accusations of bullying and suspected acts of vandalism.     

News 12 Bronx reports that International Leadership Charter High School in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx wants to build a middle school on a site about a block away from the high school.

The plan has led to demonstrations from opponents.

 “They don’t want us in our neighborhood… the rally was disrespectful and offensive to our families,” said Edilis Gonzalez, an administrator at International Leadership.

Opponents to the construction of the school say increased traffic, pollution, noise, safety and even flooding will be problems for the community if the school is built. 

The charter school alleges that its construction site was vandalized and added that bogus complaints about the construction have been made to the city to halt progress.

StopTheCharterSchool, a group opposed to the middle school’s construction, denies any involvement of vandalism.

Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, who has spearheaded many of the rallies against the school’s construction, said that the group objects to constructing a seven-story building for 250 to 300 middle school students on a narrow street on a site where a single-family home once stood.