This principal is lacking principles
Outrageous bid to end year early
A Manhattan principal was caught trying to wind her school down for the summer more than a week early — while still having kids sign in each day in order to cover her tracks, The Post has learned.
School of the Future chief Stacy Goldstein sent an e-mail to families Thursday saying that there would be no in-person or remote classes this week — but that kids still had to sign in electronically to satisfy attendance requirements.
Angry parents said no explanation was given for the early conclusion to a tumultuous school year.
“Even though there will be no in-person or remote school tomorrow through 6/25 we will need to take attendance for the whole school (6th-11th grades) tomorrow and next week,” the e-mail read.
Parents told The Post they were angered by the sudden severance — especially given the limited instruction their kids were offered at the Gramercy Park school this year.
“You should never end school early,” said one mom. “But if there was ever a year for more instruction rather than less, this was it. There was a lot of frustration over this. They’re having kids sign in for classes that aren’t happening to cover themselves.”
A Department of Education spokesperson shut down the attempt at an early summer Friday.
“Our students need to be learning every single day of the school year, and a school communication suggesting otherwise is not acceptable,” said the spokesperson, Danielle Filson. “The principal is following up with the entire school community to clarify that students will be attending school and receiving instruction until June 25.”
School of the Future officials sent out a new guidance after Filson’s statement Friday.
“I would like to clarify the schedule for next week,” Goldstein wrote. “I apologize for my miscommunication. Next week, we have regular attendance days, meaning that all students are meant to be present whether in person or remote following their usual schedule.”
Parents said they were already bristling at meager in-person ingrades struction at the 6-12 school this year. Last week’s debacle, they said, punctuated their concerns on the cusp of summer.
“The administrators here basically do as they please,” the mom said. “And if you raise any objections, then you’re invited to enroll your kids somewhere else.”