State Commissioner of Education MaryEllen Elia announced that only one school in the state had failed to meet the arbitrary benchmarks she set. It is J.H.S. 162 Lola Rodriguez De Tio.

Elia is directing NYC Chancellor Carmen Fariña to take dramatic action.

“J.H.S. 162 did not hit its targets, the State Education Department announced Wednesday afternoon. That means schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña has 60 days to appoint an outside entity, such as a school improvement expert or nonprofit, to oversee the school. The city could also decide to close or merge the school.

“Each persistently struggling school had to make at least 40 percent progress on a “demonstrable improvement index” to avoid independent receivership — and J.H.S. 162 reached 38 percent, missing some indicators by less than one point.”

So the school may be closed because it missed Elia’/ goals by less than a point.

Here’s an idea.

Elia should take control of the school, personally. Don’t give it to a charter chain or some turnaround firm. Let Elia do it. She set the goals. She should show the rest of the state what she can do. JHS 162 is on her conscience. Let her take responsibility for fixing it.