Metro

De Blasio ignores Success Academy students protesting on steps of City Hall

Nothing to see here.

Hundreds of charter school students flocked to City Hall on Monday to protest how they are invisible to Mayor de Blasio — and he proved them right when he completely ignored the crowd as he walked inside with a grin on his face.

The 200 Success Academy fourth-graders from southeastern Queens, who are without seats for next school year, were joined in the raucous rally by parents and staffers to demand action and accommodation.

As the demonstration concluded with closing remarks from Success founder Eva Moskowitz, Hizzoner’s vehicle coincidentally pulled up to the scene.

Moskowitz told the assembled kids to brace themselves for a firsthand civics lesson.

“What perfect timing,” she said as de Blasio exited his vehicle along with first lady Chirlane McCray. “He has come to join our press conference and to announce all his good deeds for kids. This is very exciting.

“Let’s see how much courage he has to face the children he is going to disenfranchise.”

With the students loudly chanting “Kids before politics” in unison just steps away, de Blasio ambled up the stairs, averted his gaze, and disappeared inside with no recognition of the bedlam.

“This is an important civics lesson,” Moskowitz told the kids after de Blasio’s snub. “He walked right by you. You are not invisible. You are visible. You have self-determination. That’s why you are here. You are not going to be invisible and we are going to stand together so you are visible.”

Despite de Blasio’s Monday evasion, a spokeswoman claimed he’s committed to engaging the community.

“The Mayor understands the power of grassroots movements and supports the right of New Yorkers to make their voices heard on issues that matter,” Jane Meyer said.

The network — which is overwhelmingly black and Hispanic — contends that de Blasio promised them middle school space in southeastern Queens two years ago but has since failed to fulfill his pledge.

Without an 11th-hour accord, Success Academy officials caution that hundreds of their students could be forced back into their local — and often poorly performing — public schools.

At Success Academy Rosedale, 99 percent of students passed their math exams and 96 passed English. At their Far Rockaway location, 94 percent passed math and 84 percent passed English.

“The children behind would me have to go back into a system that has not been able to provide for them either academically or from a space perspective,” Moskowitz said. “I call on the mayor to put kids over politics.”

Success Academy High School of the Liberal Arts students Tiayna Harris and Kayla Montgomery, who faced a similar space crisis in 2014, spoke at the rally to support their younger peers.

“I felt unimportant, disrespected, and invisible to the educational system,” said Harris.

Some of the hundreds of Success Academy students on the front steps of City Hall
Some of the hundreds of Success Academy students on the front steps of City HallGregory P. Mango

“In truth, I was so visible, the mayor wanted me to be invisible. When I heard that Mayor de Blasio was denying these kids in Queens a middle school,” Harris continued, “I thought: Again?”

“If I were to tell Mayor de Blasio anything I would say, ‘Mayor, have a heart.’”

She added defiantly, “These kids will have a space and they will continue the legacy of Success Academy.”

The Department of Education has countered that they are following proper space provision protocols and that the network will always have the option of leasing private space and seeking reimbursement.

City Hall officials said that they had “productive” discussions with Success officials last month.

“We’re working on our standard timeline – we have conversations with both district and charter school communities in the fall, and then we present school space proposals after the community has had a chance to give feedback,” Meyer said. “Success will have a middle school space option, either in public space or in private space with rental assistance, by the end of the year.”

But the network, which boasts stellar academic metrics and lengthy waiting lists, argues that there is ample room in more than six local public school buildings and that it’s too late for them to secure private facilities for next year.

They stressed Monday that de Blasio has expressly promised them seats in existing facilities.

“It has been very challenging with this mayor,” Moskowitz said. “He has not been totally honest and straightforward.”

Charter school critics contend that they reroute money away from traditional public schools and employ overly rigid discipline to encourage the departure of chronically disruptive or underperforming students.