State pays 'surprise' visit to Poughkeepsie alternative school

The state Education Department made a "surprise" visit to the Poughkeepsie City School District's alternative school on Wednesday, said the acting principal and superintendent.

The visit came amid controversy surrounding the Poughkeepsie Academic and Career Excellence (PACE) academy.

"I had the opportunity today to spend some quality time with the assistant (state Education Department) commissioner," said Superintendent Nicole Williams, during Wednesday's board meeting. "I'm thankful that she surprised us today... the visit helped us to really think more critically about the work we are doing at PACE and it gave" staff and students a chance to share their concerns.

PACE, a Poughkeepsie High School extension alternative program for grades seven through 12, has come under fire from teachers, parents and students in recent weeks, some of whom voiced concerns to the board Wednesday night. 

The state Education Department "is in contact with the administrators of the alternative education program," said Jonathan Burman, spokesman for the department. "We are working with the district to make certain they are complying with all state requirements and that all necessary documents are properly filed with the Department.” 

Teachers Bryan Woods and Robert Murtagh have described a chaotic setting in the former Christopher Columbus Elementary School building, which now houses PACE. The building itself — which was just reopened this year for PACE — has a number of safety issues, and students don't have textbooks or other necessary material, among other issues, teachers have said.

There is no protocol for a number of things, including determining who attends PACE, how students can return to their home schools (a goal of the program), how to handle disruptive students or emergencies, teachers said.

But strides are being taken to improve the alternative school, though there's still work to do, said new acting principal Joseph Mazzetti on Wednesday.

The school now has a public address system, "glitches" in the phone system have been fixed, and "every classroom has a working phone," Mazzetti said. According to the principal, new fire drill techniques were implemented; a guidance counselor has been scheduled to come in on a weekly basis; students' schedules have been examined for "gaps," and "we're making sure students' needs are being met."

Not all teachers have the materials they need, but the district is working on getting it, Mazzetti added. The school now has a working photocopier, and "every single teacher has technology in the classroom."

Deputy Superintendent Ronel Cook said air quality tests were completed, and the results showed the air quality is "appropriate." The district is waiting for results from a water quality test.

"This has been very hard work," said Mazzetti, who just took over at PACE last week. "There's a lot of work that still needs to be done."

But some wonder why the district is taking these steps now, as opposed to before school started.

"It is not equal," said district mom Trudy-Ann Bowen-Griffiths, about the conditions of PACE compared to other schools. "They're not getting an education. You're in a position to listen – if we are frustrated it is your duty to listen to us…to return our calls when we make them. If you're not doing your job, it is respectful for you to step down."

While the intentions of PACE were good, its implementation "violated students' due process rights," Murtagh said. And there's no equity, as the school "does not offer" courses required for a Regents diploma.

A number of questions remain about PACE, some of which came up at Wednesday's meeting during a presentation.

For instance, board members asked Mazzetti what protocol is in place regarding students' entry and exit into PACE, and said there was confusion about it.  

"I believe that you are correct, that the process that is in place isn't clear enough for families," Mazzetti said. "I know that's something we need to work on. Dr. Williams has asked (the high school principal, middle school principal) and myself to come up with a clear procedure."

Mazzetti didn't say what process is in place. 

And when the Journal asked Williams, after the meeting, if a procedure is in place or under development, Williams said: "I think that was addressed very clearly" during the presentation. When the Journal said that the process still seemed unclear and asked for clarification, Williams repeated the comment about it being addressed clearly and walked away.

Board member Greg Charter questioned when all the problems in the alternative school developed, since the program — with a different name in a different location — has existed for a number of years.

Last week, the board accepted the resignation of Vijayalakshi Giles, former principal of PACE, and appointed Mazzetti as acting principal for the rest of the 2016-17 school year. 

High school senior Dontay Jackson said he has been bounced between Poughkeepsie High School and PACE in. He's been vocal about his issues with the school and has referred to the conditions there are "dangerous." 

The Journal has not yet been granted permission to visit the school, as requested on Sept. 13 and 14.

Williams responded on Sept. 14 and said: "it is not possible to arrange for your visit on such short notice ... Dr. Cook will coordinate with the Building Principal and, of equal importance, make the necessary arrangements for you to visit the building at a mutually convenient time that will be the least disruptive to staff, students, and the instructional program."

The Journal submitted a records request on Sept. 20 for any protocol records the district has in relation to PACE, among other things. The district said it was researching items available under the Freedom of Information Law but did not give an estimated date of completion. 

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-451-4518 Twitter: @pojonschutzman