52 Chambers Street
New York, NY 10007
February 4, 2022
Dear P.S. 41 Francis White Families:
I am writing to share that the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) has recently posted a
proposal to re-site and merge Mott Hall IV (23K522) with grades 6-8 of P.S. 41 Francis White (23K041),
referred to as P.S. 41, in building K041 beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. Mott Hall IV and P.S.
41’s middle school grades will be combined into a new merged Mott Hall IV middle school. The merged
Mott Hall IV will be co-located with P.S. 41, which will serve only students in grades K-5, beginning in
the 2022-2023 school year.
As you know, P.S. 41 is an existing district school serving students in grades K-8 in building K041,
located at 411 Thatford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11212 in Community School District 23. K041 also
houses Firststep NYC (23KCFA), a New York City Early Education Center (NYCEEC) serving students
in pre-K. Mott Hall IV is an existing district middle school serving students in grades 6-8 in building
K271, located at 1137 Herkimer Street, Brooklyn, NY, 11233, also in District 23, and located
approximately 1.6 miles from building K041. Mott Hall IV is co-located in K271 with Eagle Academy
for Young Men II (23K644), referred to as Eagle Academy, a district secondary school serving students in
grades 6-12; and grades 5-8 of Uncommon Ocean Hill Collegiate Charter School (84K777), referred to as
Uncommon Ocean Hill.
What is the NYCDOE proposing?
The NYCDOE is proposing a re-siting, merger and co-location. A re-siting means that part or all of a
school will be located in a different building than the building in which the school is currently located. A
co-location means that two or more school organizations are located in the same building and may share
common spaces, such as auditoriums, gymnasiums, libraries, and cafeterias. A merger means that part or
all of two or more existing school organizations are combined into one school to operate and serve
students more effectively. Proposals for mergers seek to improve learning environments by combining the
strengths and best practices of both schools and distributing resources to reinforce academic enrichment
opportunities, interventions, and other supports.
If this proposal is approved, Mott Hall IV will be re-sited and merged with grades 6-8 of P.S. 41, and the
two schools would be co-located in building K041 beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. P.S. 41 will
then serve students in grades K-5 and the merged Mott Hall IV will serve students in grades 6-8 in
K041.
If this proposal is approved by the Panel for Educational Policy (PEP), what does this mean for my
child(ren)?
Mott Hall IV will be re-sited and merged with grades 6-8 of P.S. 41 in K041 beginning in the
2022-2023 school year. P.S. 41 will then only serve students in grades K-5 as of the 2022-2023
school year.
Current students in grade 8 at P.S. 41 who meet promotional criteria will complete middle school
at P.S. 41 at the end of the 2021-2022 school year and continue on to high school through the
high school admissions process as they normally would.
All students at P.S. 41 in grades 6 and 7, as well as students in grade 8 who do not meet
promotional criteria, are expected to attend the merged Mott Hall IV in K041. However, P.S. 41
students who prefer a different school option in their district(s) of eligibility may seek a transfer
for the 2022-2023 school year through the NYCDOE’s Office of Student Enrollment by speaking
first with school administrators and then visiting a Family Welcome Center, which will work to
match students based on their needs and seat availability.
Current P.S. 41 students in grade 5 who meet promotional criteria will complete elementary
school at P.S. 41 at the end of the 2021-2022 school year and continue on to the middle school to
which they are matched through the middle school admissions process. Families with students in
grade 5 who applied to P.S. 41 for grade 6, including P.S. 41 students who applied to continue at
the school for grade 6, will have that choice changed to the merged Mott Hall IV on their middle
school applications. These families will be notified of this change and given the opportunity to
adjust their choices on their middle school application if they so desire.
If this proposal is approved, the NYCDOE will provide students currently in grade 5 at P.S. 41
with continuing admissions priority to the merged Mott Hall IV in order to support educational
continuity. This means that current P.S. 41 students in grade 5 will receive priority to the merged
Mott Hall IV through the middle school admissions process for the 2022-2023 school year.
If this proposal is approved, P.S. 41 will no longer serve middle school students following the
completion of the 2021-2022 school year and as such, will no longer offer middle school
programming or admit middle school students.
Current P.S. 41 students in grades K-4, as well as students in grade 5 who do not meet
promotional criteria, will continue to attend P.S. 41, which will be co-located with the merged
Mott Hall IV middle school in K041.
If this proposal is approved, P.S. 41 will continue to admit students through the kindergarten
admissions process, giving priority to residents of District 23, but will no longer admit middle
school students beginning in the 2022-2023 school year.
Where can I learn more about this proposal?
This letter serves as notice that an Educational Impact Statement (EIS) regarding this proposal has been
posted on the NYCDOE’s website at: https://www.schools.nyc.gov/about-us/leadership/panel-foreducation-policy/2021-2022-pages/march-23-2022-school-utilization-proposals/.
We encourage you to visit that website often as we may update it with important dates and new
information as it becomes available. Copies of the EIS are also available in the main offices of P.S. 41,
Mott Hall IV, Eagle Academy, and Uncommon Ocean Hill.
How can I provide feedback?
This proposal must be voted on and approved by the PEP prior to implementation. We anticipate that the
PEP will vote on this proposal on March 23, 2022 at 6 p.m. at Long Island City High School, located at
14-30 Broadway, Queens, NY, 11106. Feedback about this proposal may be shared at the March 23,
2022 PEP meeting.
In advance of the PEP vote, Joint Public Hearings for this proposal will be held in building K271 on
Wednesday, March 9, 2022 and in building K041 on Thursday, March 10, 2022. All community members
will have the opportunity to share feedback about this proposal at the Joint Public Hearings.
Feedback on this proposal can also be directed at any time to Perry Stein in the NYCDOE’s Office of
District Planning by phone at 212-374-0208 or via e-mail at D23proposals@schools.nyc.gov.
The official Notice of Proposal and Joint Public Hearings are attached.
Sincerely,
Dr. Miatheresa Pate
Community School District 23 Superintendent
Enclosure: Notice of Proposal and Joint Public Hearings
