The city Department of Education is trying to fast-track the placement of charter schools in public-school buildings years ahead of schedule — in a bid to protect the schools from a less charter-friendly mayor.
Critics say the political intent is so blatant that the education-policy board is set to vote next-month on a Hell’s Kitchen site for a charter school run by former City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz, although an application to open the school has yet to be submitted.
While the controversial placement of charter schools in public-school buildings is typically done six to eight months in advance, the department has proposed a number of space-sharing deals for as far in the future as September 2015.
“I think [the department] is responding to the charter-school community, which is certainly very worried about the next administration,” said Patrick Sullivan, Manhattan representative on the Panel for Educational Policy.
Three of the four major Democratic mayoral hopefuls — Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, Comptroller John Liu and former Comptroller Bill Thompson — last month called for a moratorium on so-called co-locations.
They echoed the position of United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, whose union’s endorsement they covet.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn does not support a ban, but she has called for reforms of how space-sharing is done — including by making the process more consistent and transparent.
Republican mayoral hopefuls Joe Lhota and George McDonald have said they support co-locating charter schools in public-school space.
DOE officials dismissed the suggestion that they were seeking to do favors for certain charter schools.
“We make every effort to plan early — and strategically — for the long term, allowing schools to most efficiently use space to deliver for children,” said DOE spokesman Devon Puglia.
The proposal to house Success Academy Charter School Manhattan Middle School in a building on West 49th Street — which currently houses Graphic Communication Arts HS and other schools — is set for a March 11 panel vote.
The middle school would allow three Success Academy elementary schools — one that currently serves students through grade 2, and two that are set to open in September — to serve kids through eighth grade.
A spokeswoman for the network — which runs a dozen charter public schools in the city and will add six more in the fall — said the future request to the state won’t be for a brand new school, but rather an expansion of existing schools.
“This is about giving children classrooms to learn in, and we think this is a good option for our school community,” she said.