A Beloved School's Future Hangs in the Balance: Community Fights for a Voice in Relocation Debate
By Gus Saltonstall
Emotions ran high as the Center School auditorium buzzed with energy on Thursday evening. Hundreds of concerned parents, students, alumni, and teachers gathered for a crucial meeting with representatives from the New York City Department of Education's District 3. The topic? A controversial proposal to relocate the cherished Center School from its longtime home on West 84th Street to the P.S. 191 building on West 61st Street. But here's where it gets even more complex: this move would also mean eliminating the middle school grades at P.S. 191, leaving it to serve only grades 3-K through fifth.
Interim Acting Superintendent Reggie Higgins, new to the role, opened the meeting with a promise of transparency: “I am not responsible for how this process began, but I am responsible for how it unfolds. I want to hear from you.” This statement set the tone for a night of passionate pleas and pointed questions.
Deputy Superintendent Mariele Graham presented the Department's rationale, citing overcrowding at the Center School's current location. “This building has been operating at over 105% capacity since 2021,” she explained, highlighting the need to comply with the city's upcoming class size caps, which mandate no more than 20-25 students per class by 2028. Graham revealed that discussions about a potential move began as early as November 2024, when the Department toured the vacant Manhattan Country School. Working groups, formed in January 2025, had been exploring options for District 3, eventually leading to the current relocation proposal. The plan includes finding shared theater space near the new location and identifying alternative outdoor areas, such as fields in Riverside Park, to compensate for the loss of the Center School's current yard.
However, many in the audience felt blindsided. “To say this has been discussed is simply not true,” declared a parent with multiple children at the Center School. “It’s been happening behind closed doors, without meaningful parent involvement.” Another PTA leader emphasized, “We all want what’s best for our kids, but we need the time and space to make an informed decision.”
The emotional weight of the situation was palpable, especially from those with deep roots in the school. A current student shared, “My mom always told me how special the Center School was, and she was right.” Another parent added, “We are deeply concerned about the lack of community engagement. We want to be heard. We want a seat at the table.”
And this is the part most people miss: the proposed move would also dismantle the Riverside School for Makers and Artists Middle School, currently housed within P.S. 191. A petition launched by P.S. 191 families, titled “Save Riverside School For Makers and Artists Middle School,” has already garnered 365 signatures. “We strongly oppose the dissolution of our middle school,” the petition reads, demanding that any changes be postponed until at least Fall 2035 to allow current students to complete their K-8 education. A sixth-grade student from Riverside School poignantly pleaded, “We love our school. Please don’t kick us out. We would have to travel far and wouldn’t be with our friends. I’ve been here since pre-K.”
Before any relocation can occur, several steps must be taken, including the publication of an Educational Impact Statement, a Joint Public Hearing, a Public Comment Analysis, and a vote by the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) board. The future of both schools hangs in the balance, leaving the community to grapple with difficult questions.
Controversial Question: Is prioritizing overcrowding relief worth disrupting the lives of students and families at both schools? Should the Department of Education have engaged the community earlier in this process? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
For more on this developing story, including a deeper dive into the situation at The Riverside School for Makers and Artists, stay tuned for a larger article from WSR. In the meantime, subscribe to West Side Rag’s FREE email newsletter here and support our work here.
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