Refutes Parent's Assertions
To The Editor:

I was appalled to read in your newspaper a letter, written by a parent whose child attends Steinway, I.S. 141, NASA Middle School, in which he/she bluntly questions my honesty, sincerity and level of participation at the school. For the record, Mr. Anthony B. Aldorasi was and still is the positive change agent who restored a school that was in crisis, to the wonderful condition it is today.

I speak from a level of experience, since I was elected to the Community School Board 30 Queens, under the old Board of Education structure for eight consecutive years. I was the youngest board member elected in New York City, and served as vice president for seven years. As part of my responsibilities, I was accountable to all of the parents of District 30 as well as the parents of I.S. 141. On countless occasions, I was confronted by angry and frustrated parents and community residents who demanded board action to help restore the order to I.S. 141. The school was simply "out of control", where the students ran this institution. They harassed, bullied and defied authority from the school and the police.

Many students were taken from the school premises in handcuffs by the police, while their victims were carried out on stretchers into waiting ambulances bound for the local hospitals due to their serious injuries. Yes, I referred to not all, but a significant number of youth who attended I.S. 141 before September 2001 as gangsters, and "wannabes"-only because they acted as such! I have the data, the statistics to support this information, and, more importantly, the memories of such occurrences. In one such case, a young girl who had a promising dance career ahead of her was injured so badly in the schoolyard that she suffered a broken leg in two places. She will never dance professionally due to another student's indifference to her health and safety and his flagrant disrespect for school rules. In another case of violence, a local merchant was beaten up by several male students from I.S. 141 because he confronted them for stealing. They dragged him outside of his luncheonette on 21st Avenue and beat him (and his son when he tried to interfere on his father's behalf) to a bloody pulp.

Unfortunately there are many, many, more violent stories that I can share with this parent on a one-on-one basis. In addition, this parent seems to have no recollection of life on 37th Street before Mr. Aldorasi to help them recover from constant acts of violence which had occurred on her own street on a regular basis. Quite often, we became caught up in life's necessities that we forget what is going on around us, and this could account for this parent's forgetfulness!

In conclusion, Mr. Aldorasi was handpicked to head I.S. 141 on an interim basis from July 2001 to February 2002 when the school board elected him as the official appointed principal. May I add, this was one of the smartest moves made by the nine members of the Community School Board 30. This was due partly on his outstanding performance during his interim period. Principal Aldorasi came to I.S. 141 with 15 successful years of experience as a strong assistant principal at a most challenging middle school. He proved to be a strong disciplinarian as he eliminated the numerous challenges he faced at I.S. 141. Isn't it wonderful that Mr. Aldorasi has selected the majority of the talented teachers during his six-year tenure? They have taught our children so well that they are able to compete for admission into some of the finest high schools in New York. I am proud of Principal Aldorasi, who has employed all of the ingredients necessary to bring a village together under his wonderful expertise. Bring Mr. Aldorasi back to I.S. 141 - now! Gus Prentzas Parent and Community Leader