Cool or Not Cool: Private Charter goes after Public School Space?

Park Slope middle schoolers are in need of more schools, but a new charter school wants to take public school space away from the city.

The Brooklyn Urban Garden Charter School is interested in making a public, 300-student, science-focused school to serve sixth to eighth graders in District 15 as early as next fall. Enrollment is done lottery-style though, so that doesn't really make it a public school. 

According to the Brooklyn Paper,

Many parents are against putting charter schools into operating school buildings, claiming that it takes away classrooms from public school children and forces everyone to compete for shared gym, library and cafeteria space.

Yet Mark Kolman — a member of the of the District 15 Community Education Council who has opposed inappropriate charter co-locations in the past — said the Brooklyn Urban Charter School would likely be good for the area.

“I don’t see it hurting anything at this point; the neighborhood needs more middle schools,” he said. “But it is certainly a business.”

SO: a business founded by corporate savvy members to educate only the lucky 300 students in District 15 who make it in to study outdoor gardening and nature. Is that cool or not cool?