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District 28 superintendent calls interagency safety meeting after student deaths; highlights attendance, literacy gains and autism training
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Blake announced an interagency meeting with the NYPD and DOE to address a recent spate of violence affecting students and outlined district priorities including math and literacy improvements, reducing chronic absenteeism and expanded inclusion training for students with autism.
Superintendent Dr. Blake told the Community Education Council (CEC) for New York City Geographic District #28 on Oct. 9 that safety would be the district’s top priority and announced an interagency meeting with the NYPD and the Department of Education at Martin Van Buren High School.
"Safety is our number 1 priority," Dr. Blake said, urging principals, parents and law enforcement to coordinate at a session scheduled the next day to "put front and center our young people." The superintendent said the session would run from 4 to 6 p.m. and include representatives from schools and precincts.
The statement followed council remarks about two recent student deaths — a gun-related incident on Linden Boulevard and two subway-surfing fatalities — that members and speakers said had left families and the district reeling. Blake said the district would take "strong actions" alongside NYPD and DOE officials and called the planned meeting a chance to move from awareness to concrete steps.
Blake also briefed the council on academic priorities, reporting districtwide improvements in English and math and noting work to reduce chronic absenteeism. "The priorities are about improving outcomes in math and literacy," he said, adding that District 28 had a September attendance rate of 93.1%, above the city average of 90.9%.
The superintendent highlighted several grants and initiatives he said would support those goals: an allied learning technology grant to advance literacy using digital tools; RESO capital grants for school building improvements; arts-and-literacy awards to specific schools; and $100,000 mentoring grants to 15 elementary and middle schools to improve attendance and engagement.
On special education and inclusion, Blake said District 28 — with an autism classification rate of roughly 13% — is one of five districts selected for an "Spring Into Inclusion" professional learning series. The sessions are intended to train educators in inclusive classroom strategies and intensive behavior supports.
Blake encouraged parents to take part in upcoming district meetings and said staff would continue targeted support to schools through interventionists and coaches. He urged parents and community leaders to help sustain improvements, and district leaders said they would share additional screener and performance data as it became available.
The superintendent’s comments came before public concerns over class-size implementation and program cuts surfaced during the public-comment period and will be addressed in follow-up communications, council members said.
