Martin Florsheim, the school’s first deaf principal, outlined ambitious plans in a recent issue of their ’47 Alumni News’ publication regarding the future of JHS 47. On the agenda: a high school program! Exactly what is JHS 47? In its heyday, this Manhattan day program, had over 600 students enrolled. Some of the most illustrious graduates are Bummy Burstein, the Deaf Parliamentarian, Alexander Fleischman, a long time deaf community leader, Alfred Sonnenstrahl, the former TDI Executive Director and Eugene Hairston, a former top ranking middle weight boxer. JHS 47 has fallen on hard times in recent years, but is on the upswing now. The first three graduates are Jewish. This information was shared by Barry Strassler, editor of Deaf Digest, who is also a 47 proud grad.