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PS 139 parents urge continuity of free afterschool services and ask for Beacon program; raise traffic and bus-stop safety concerns
Summary
Parents from PS 139 told the CEC that a 21st Century grant that funds free afterschool programming expires in 2027 and asked the district to pursue alternatives including a Beacon program; separate public comments requested traffic-safety fixes near Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School.
Parents and community members told the CEC that free afterschool services at PS 139 rely on a 21st Century grant that expires in 2027 and asked the district and elected offices to pursue alternatives, including bringing a Beacon program to the school.
Sasha Cruz said the current provider, Common Point, runs a free afterschool program funded by a 21st Century grant that expires in 2027 and that PS 139 is a Title I school whose families “rely on these free afterschool opportunities to support not only their families so that they could go to work.” She said Common Point will need to reapply for competitive grant funding in 2026 and that winning the next grant is not guaranteed; she asked the CEC to support alternatives, such as a Beacon through Community House, and to help push for continuity of services.
Another public commenter, Jessica Zito, asked the CEC to publicize bus-route changes that will affect students, and raised safety concerns outside Metropolitan Expeditionary Learning School and the Mellis campus, including requests for an additional traffic light and relocation of Q23 and Q54 bus stops to reduce curbside parking that she said causes hazardous conditions for students.
CEC and community board representatives acknowledged the requests and noted the need to coordinate with city transportation and elected officials. The PEP representative also said she secured a meeting with DOE staff to discuss upcoming school utilization and capacity issues and encouraged parents to sign up for the May 28 PEP meeting if they wish to testify about contracts or utilization decisions.
