DOE plans to close 12 struggling schools, including 7 in BK

The city's Department of Education (DOE) announced today that it plans to close the book on 12 struggling public schools, including seven here in Brooklyn.The Brooklyn schools on the chopping block are P.S. 019 Roberto Clemente Elementary, General D. Chappie James Elementary School of Science, the International Arts Business School, the Middle School for the Arts, J.H.S. 296 Anna Gonzalez Community School, the Academy of Business and Community Development and Satellite Three. The DOE says it also has plans to phase out the middle school portions of P.S. 161 and Brooklyn Collegiate. Five other schools will be shuttered in The Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island. The United Federation of Teachers called the move "another stunning failure of DOE management." The union says instead of simply closing the institutions, the department should "do the hard work of helping struggling schools."The city's schools chancellor says it was a decision that had to be made to give students the best education possible.Crown Heights parents protest school closure