Monday morning I went into PS 321’s guidance counselor’s office to see if she’d heard anything about the fact that my daughter was on no list whatsover; she doesn’t exist as far as the Education Department is concerned.
She said she had 45 messages on her phone machine about various matters and didn’t have time to check. She also thanked me for my patience. In all fairness it was only 8:45 in the morning and her office was full of 5th grade parents with problems related to middle school. She’d barely had her coffee.
Still, that’s when I decided to take action. To Take Matters Into My Own Hands—or Feet. So what if it was 95 degrees in the shade yesterday: I marched to two of the schools on my daughter’s list to find out what was going on.
First I went to the middles school not far from my house on Fifth Avenue and 5th Street. My son went there a few years back so I knew exactly WHO to see and WHERE she sits. She told me that my daughter should put that school down on an appeal form and she would see what she could do. No promises.
Next, I walked to the other middle school located on 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. A mom on a mission, sweat dripped down my face. I was bright red when I arrived in the lobby; the school guard asked me to sign in.
“Do you have an appointment?” she said nicely.
“I’m here to speak with the principal,” I said seriously.
She pointed me toward the assistant principal who listened to my story and went to find the principal. Finally she brought me down to the school’s auditorium where the principal, a real hands-on, sweetheart of a guy, seemed to already know bits and pieces of my story.
“Here’s what we think happened…”
This mensche went on to offer a viable theory of why my daughter was completely left off of all lists (You’d need to be a Talmudic scholar of the Education Department to understand). He said that I should put his school on the appeal form and he’d make every effort to hold a spot for her despite the fact that he’s got a full list for next year and a long waiting list. We shook hands.
Next, I marched 22 blocks down to PS 321 and marched up to my daughter’s classroom, which was empty; they were in science, which is in separate building. I marched downstairs, crossed the playground to the mini-school, found her…
“Which school do you want to go to,” I said huffing and puffing.
“Do I have to decide right now?” she said. “We’re talking about dissecting a cow’s eyeball.”
“I’ll find out,” I said.
Next I marched back into the guidance counselor’s office and asked how much time we had before she filed the appeals.
“I’m bringing them over tomorrow afternoon…”
So we did have some time. OSFO made her decision this morning and as far as I’m concerned that’s where she’s going this fall.
We shall see.