Parent credits open enrollment with son’s academic and mental-health turnaround

Tristan Gardner told the Brooklyn City Board of Education on Jan. 20 that the district’s open-enrollment policy transformed his son’s school experience and mental health.

“I pledge allegiance to the flag…” was recited earlier, and later Gardner introduced himself: “I’m Tristan Gardner, 4131 West 48, Cleveland 44144.” Gardner said his son, an 11th grader at Brooklyn High School, had struggled with grades and anxiety after attending private schools. After transferring under open enrollment, Gardner said, his son’s academic performance and well-being improved dramatically: “My son’s mental health has done a complete 180,” Gardner said, and he noted his son earned a spot on the superintendent’s list this year with a grade-point average above 4.0.

Gardner acknowledged community concerns about open enrollment — including worries that it might be driven by athletic recruiting — but he said that was not his experience. “I was told there was a concern about him being recruited just because he plays basketball,” he said. “Playing basketball in high school is something that he succeeds in…and it certainly was not the reason he went.”

Chair (S1) thanked Gardner for speaking and acknowledged the difficulty of sharing personal information publicly. After public comment, the board moved on to its scheduled superintendent and finance reports.

Why it matters: Open-enrollment policy decisions affect who can attend Brooklyn City schools and can have implications for school funding, class size and community dynamics. Gardner framed the policy as decisive for one student’s academic path and mental health, and his testimony provides a concrete account the board may weigh as it considers enrollment policies and community concerns.

What’s next: The board continued its agenda with a superintendent report and finance updates; no immediate policy vote on open enrollment occurred during the Jan. 20 meeting.