The Woody Shuffle New York Style

The Enrollment Center, September 2.

The woody shuffle refers to the unorganized admissions process at Southern Illinois University. Woody is the main building but students are shuffled from building to building and floor to floor because nothing is organized and no one knows anything except their specific job. The New York City public school system follows this same admissions process. I know this is repetitve for most but it is part of our story so I am repeating it all. The shuffle began several months ago in Carbondale, IL. Once we knew for sure we were goignto New York, originally it was Massachusettes, Serena began looking for schools for the girls. She was connected with the Placement Office and met Hazel, a wonderful woman from Chicago. She was tickled that we from both from Illinois and thus began a good relationship. She explained the school system and recommended PS 125 for Abby and Columbia Secondary School for Katie. Serena was unable to get ahold of any one at PS 125. She did speak to someone at the Secondary School who informed her that their classes were full. She explained that they have a very strong academic program and their admissions process was rigorous. An application must include test scores, the last report card, and references. Kevin called Hazel back adn explained that Columbia Secondary SChool would not take Katie and asked for a different referral. She refused to give one and said that we had to get Katie into the Secondary School. The school said no so things came to a halt. Our only option was to apply once we got to the city as a new resident and the school may accept her application at that time. We continued to try to get ahold of the elementary school so we get get information on Abby's supply list and inquire about school uniforms. We never were able to speak to anyone there.

Okay, then we arrive in New York. The placement offices are closed for the 2 months surrounding the start of school. I am still unable to figure out the reason for this. We found a brochure on line that directed us to an emrollment center on 93rd. The office opened August 31, school started September 8. We drove to the enrollment office, directions in hand, and are unable to find the building. The parking here is a mess and we arrived close to 11am, the time the streets are closed for cleaning. We parked anyway and a person on the street said it was in our best interest to either double park or move. So we moved. We parked again, risking a ticket, and on foot set out to find the building. As it turns out the enrollment office was actually in a school. We thought it was an office building. We were greeted at the door and given some papers to fill out. Then we went into an auditorium where we were asked what forms we brought. Then we went to the stage and signed in and got a number. When our number was called we were asked to produce the forms we had brought. At this time we were told that we could not register becuase we did not have 2 forms with our address. We explained that we had only arrived in the city that weekend and thus did not have utility bills or pay stubs yet. They did not care and we had to leave without registering the kids and with no more information abotu the schools. The only good news of the day, we somehow avoided a parking ticket! When we got home Kevin called the power company and explained the situation. They agreed to mail us a statement that said we lived at this address. Then we set out to wait until the letter arrived in the mail. The university gave us a letter that also stated we lived in student housing at this address.

This was September 2, 2010. The first day of school came and went.

We spoke to other families in the apartment building and were also introduced to a father at church and we listened to everyones advice about the schools. Everyone agreed that we should not go to the public schools in our district. Of the families we spoke to in our building one goes to private school and the other to a Jewish. Neither are options for us. The church man gave Kevin a few schools in a better district to try.

Our letter from the power company arrived on Friday, September 10.

Monday all 5 of us set out for the recommended schools. We walked from 121st Street to 109th Street. We were given a number and waited in the hallway with other parents. The only white family. When our number was called Kevin want into the officeand spoke to the staff and principal. The sixth grade class was already full but we inquired about enrolling Abby. They are a gifted program, not a problem, and the class is dual-language. They asked what Abby's level of proficioncy is in Spanish. She has none. The principal said since she is so bright she could probably catch on and do okay but he wanted to speak to the classroom teacher first and make she sure was okay giving Abby extra help. We were supposed to call him back on Friday. Another week of school would be missed. Kevin asked what he thought we schould do and the principal said as a professional he has to tell us to go to our district school, but as a parent he would tell us to wait and get the girls in the schools we want.

Since sixth grade was full there we went to the middle school next door to inqurie about Katie. Their application process was similar to Columbia Secondary School, but they needed a referral from te Placement Office.

The next day Kevin took Katie back to 93rd Street, on foot this time!!!! He says they were treating really badly from everyone fromthe person asking he did he want to resufing to give him the referral even after he explained he had talked to the school. Once again the placement office would only give us a referral to the Secondary School. So, Kevin and Katie walked there, 123rd Street, and once again he was told she could not attend there. They asked Kevin why he thought they would take his child and he told them exactly why he thoguht Katie deserved to attend their school. They gave her a brief entrance exam in math and confirmed that she was unable to attend. They only accept the top 10% of students.

Poor Kevin, then went to the elementary school in our neighborhood to inquire about enrolling Abby. He stood in the office for 15 minutes and not a single person acknoweledged him or offered to help. He was so disgusted that he left without speaking to anyone.

He came home banging his head against the elevator and ready to scream or cry. He could not believe this city would make it so impossible to enroll your children in school. Serena and Kevin discussed the days events and agreed that homeschooling Katie was the only option.

The next day, Wednesday, Kevin and Abby set out to interview the other elementary school in the neighborhood. We had been weighing the pros and cons of the dual-language program but wanted to try and gather more information in case that did not work out. They came home later in the morning and both loved the school. That settled it. Both kids have found a school! Kind of makes Southern Illinois' shuffle seem easy! At least all the buildings are in the same area! How many miles did Kevin walk in the last 2 weeks? Even with all of our work, even before arriving, the girls missed 2 weeks of school and we never did find a public school that would admit a regular 6th grader.