NY SEATS: Increasing the graduation rate, ending overcrowding

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Important News and Information About Overcrowding:

City controller's report blasts Bronx school overcrowding, lack of relief

Push for 'New' School Seats Ripped as Musical Chairs Erin Einhorn Daily News February 21 2008

A Queens High school With 3,600 Students and Room for Just 1,800 Samuel G. Freedman New York Times January 16, 2008


City Drops Deadline on Temporary Classroom Use by Schools Erin Einhorn Daily News December 6th 2007


Catchment-22 S.Jhoanna Robledo New York Magazine November 26th, 2007


Students Protest Disappearing High Schools Eileen Markey City Limits Weekly November 5, 2007


New PS 94 Building Comes with Unanswered Questions by Alex Kratz September 20, 2007


NYC Schools: Planning for Failure?  Jarrett Murphy Village Voice Online December 8th 2006


Parents Fight 'Space War' in Bx Michelle Kaske December 3, 2006

We engage parents, students, school staff and concerned community members to improve the quality of public education for all children in the Northwest Bronx community.

Policy Platform: Increase the graduation rate, end school overcrowding!

The February 2007 Capital Budget Amendment must:

1. Restore the 1,703 seats cut from the Bronx (more than 1,500 from District 10 in the Northwest Bronx) in June 2007 from the Five Year Capital Plan.
2. Add an additional 732 seats so that 2,000 seats can be sited at the Armory and the Leadership Institute High School can have a school.
3. Start the process toward a new Five Year Capital Plan that builds enough quality school facilities to increase the graduation rate to a minimum standard of 70% of students graduation in four years and 80% in six years.  We expect future capital plans to set even higher standards.

“We have to end overcrowding so our children can graduate.  Our children lack enrichment programs like music, art, and dance.  They don’t have gyms, science labs, or libraries.  When the class size is at forty, the teacher cannot focus on any one particular child - it’s more like babysitting than teaching - you just can’t teach 40 kids at the same time.  Overcrowding can lead to conflict in the schools - students and staff are frustrated, and students are forced to learn in hallways, closets, and storage spaces.  When there is stress there is tension, tension creates friction, and this is not the learning environment we want or deserve.”  Nancy Maldonado, former teacher, Groundswell Project at King of Glory Tabernacle Church

For more information contact:

Amanda Devecka-Rinear, amanda@northwestbronx.org

(718) 584-0515 x 312 and (917) 213-6028