In the coming days, the public will have a chance to weigh in on the city’s plans to close 14 schools and merge or shrink five others — the largest round of school closures under Mayor Bill de Blasio.
As in previous years, city officials plan on holding at least two public meetings at each school: One to allow community members to ask questions about the changes, and a “joint public hearing,” required by state law, where members of the public can offer input that will be delivered to the Panel for Educational Policy, which must sign off on the education department’s proposals.
While the meetings are a chance to ask questions or raise concerns, the PEP typically approves the city’s plans even when community members oppose them at these hearings.
The first round of community meetings are already underway, but most will happen over the next two weeks. The joint public hearings have not all been scheduled, an education department spokesman said, but you can find the dates and times for those that have below.
Here is a list of all the scheduled meetings, which will each take place at the affected school: