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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by Deanna Philippe, Principal of Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, on Intro 532

3:23:58

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Deanna Philippe, Principal of Cristo Rey Brooklyn High School, testified in support of Intro 532, which would expand security guard funding for non-public schools. She emphasized the importance of protecting small religious schools and providing equal safety measures for all students, regardless of school type or size.

Cristo Rey Brooklyn serves underserved communities with a unique work-study program to make Catholic education affordable.
The school currently lacks adequate security due to decreased enrollment post-COVID, making them ineligible for existing security grants.
Philippe argued that passing Intro 532 would address injustice and protect marginalized communities, especially given the current threats to school safety.

Deanna Philippe

3:23:58

Good afternoon.

3:23:58

My name is Dina Philippe, and I'm the principal of Crystal Ray Brooklyn High School in East Wabush.

3:24:04

Crystal Ray Brooklyn has a strong tradition of providing quality edge occasions to students who come from underserved communities and students who have a strong desire to go to college.

3:24:14

One way we're able to make this work for our families is that our students go to school 4 days a week and they work 1 day a week.

3:24:20

In corporate settings, these sponsorships provide their tuition and basically make Catholic education affordable to families who otherwise would not have the opportunity.

3:24:30

I want to thank you for holding this hearing.

3:24:32

And thank you for considering the passage of intro 532 in order to protect small schools like mine and the women sitting next to me.

3:24:42

As stated before, there is no reason why students in religious schools and students in small schools should not be protected just like students in any other school.

3:24:51

When this grant was passed about 10 years ago, we were eager and excited and we certainly did apply for this grant, only to be disheartened when we learned that as our enrollment has decreased since COVID, now we are ineligible to have this protection.

3:25:06

So quite honestly, I serve as protection as the principal with my dean of students and a few other teachers.

3:25:12

That's unfair to me, unfair to our faculty and staff, and certainly our school community.

3:25:17

By passing this bill counsel, you would affect change for a community that's been marginalized in a number of ways.

3:25:23

Passing this bill means not only Christopher Brooklyn, but other schools like mine, would be able to protect students, family, and staff.

3:25:32

Non public school students should be provided with the same safety measures that all their counterparts receive in other public schools.

3:25:40

It is unjust to do otherwise.

3:25:42

Especially in the incurring environment that we are living in right now, where schools that are typically the safe space have now been under threat.

3:25:50

So again, I want to thank you for this opportunity.

3:25:53

Thank you on behalf of Krista Ray Brooklyn and other religious schools in our city.

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Testimony by Bracha Rutner, Head of School at Yeshiva University High School for Girls, on School Security

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Council Member Yeger questions Principal Philippe about school security funding