Columbia Secondary School

Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science & Engineering
Location
425 W. 123rd Street New York, New York United States
Coordinates	40°48′38″N 73°57′21″W / 40.81056°N 73.95583°W / 40.81056; -73.95583Coordinates: 40°48′38″N 73°57′21″W / 40.81056°N 73.95583°W / 40.81056; -73.95583
Information
Type	Public
Motto	We Build CSS Together!
Established	2007
School district	5
Principal	Miriam Nightengale
Grades	6 to 12
Enrollment	about 400  (2010-2011 academic school year)
Color(s)	White and Blue
Mascot	Lion
Nickname	CSS
Website	www.columbiasecondary.org

The Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, & Engineering (otherwise known as CSS-MSE) is a public, sixth- through twelfth-grade school that opened in the fall of 2007. A partnership between the New York City Department of Education, the community, and Columbia University, CSS-MSE serves students who have an interest in a program focusing on math, science, and engineering. Beginning with a founding sixth grade class, the school will add one grade per year until it reaches its full enrollment of 650 students. Currently, the school is composed of 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th grade

The school is located on the 5th and 4th floors of PS-125 on 123rd St. between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Avenue, until the new building is built on the corner of W. 125th St. and Broadway. The date for this building to be built has not been determined.

Controversial History

The school has suffered from a series of unfortunate events. The most notable event was the unfortunate death of one of its students, Nicole Suriel, in June 2010. She died on a school trip to a beach on Long Island. An investigation by the New York City Department of Education concluded that multiple parties were to blame. The children went swimming in the ocean when no lifeguards were on duty and the beach was officially closed, according to signs posted at the time. The children were accompanied on the school trip by three adults. Further, no permission slips had been signed by parents allowing children to attend the trip. Finally the NYC DOE determined that CSS's Principal Maldonado and Vice Principal Stillman were responsible for not placing sufficient order or safeguards in place to ensure student safety. The teacher who led the school trip was fired. The Vice Principal was also fired, but Principal Maldonado rehired him within weeks. Principal Maldonado received tenure days before he was officially reprimanded, and so retained his position. However, his tenure was revoked. He was eligible to attain tenure within two years. Nearly 50 percent of the teachers left the school when this decision came down.

In Fall 2010, Principal Maldonado was fired by the New York City DOE. The stated reason for his dismissal was an improper relationship with another school official, the parent coordinator. The parent coordinator had been the principal's babysitter. The principal had then allowed her to move into an apartment he owned rent free. He also hired her as his parent coordinator. They admitted a romantic involvement, which they said started only after she was no longer parent coordinator.

In addition, the parents of the school have strongly divided opinions about whether the principal's leadership was good or not. Disagreements have led to name calling in the press.

A vice principal from the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering at City College was tapped to take over as principal (interim acting) at CSS in late 2010. As of August 15th, 2011, Miriam Nightengale was appointed as principal of the school.

External links

• School Website
• The Columbia Record features CSS in their 3rd year, as they "graduate into high school." Great video footage of student testimonials.
• ABC News education correspondent Art McFarland features CSS's unique Philosophy program.
• The West Side Spirit, sponsor of the annual Blackboard Awards, chronicles our successful startup.
• The NY Daily News profiles CSS in an article surveying the city's best new schools.
• The Columbia Spectator profiles CSS's largely positive space-sharing situation with PS 125.
• The Village Voice profiles Columbia Secondary School's place as a school working to change cultural biases that can discourage young people from pursuing science, math, or engineering.
• The Gotham Gazette profiles Columbia Secondary School's promise to become one of New York City's most diverse selective schools.
• The New York Sun takes note of CSS's school promise to be a beacon of both academic excellence and diversity.
• The first press release about school's opening as published in Columbia News site in 2005.

Sources

• School Website
• Columbia University Website