Q&A
School building accessibility improvements and funding
3:39:33
ยท
137 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about plans and funding for improving school building accessibility. DOE officials discuss current projects, goals, and the potential impact of increased funding.
- Current funding of $800 million aimed at increasing fully accessible primary buildings from 33% to 40%
- Goal to increase District 75 building accessibility to 75%, with 50% fully accessible
- 50 accessibility projects currently underway
- Discussion of potential impact of $1.25 billion in funding, which could increase accessibility to 45% and double the number of projects
- Emphasis on the importance of accessibility for keeping students in their communities
Rita Joseph
3:39:33
So we will be writing you a follow-up letter for for a breakdown of those questions.
3:39:39
Last year, the preliminary budget hearing, SCA identified accessibility as top 800,000,000 through New York City public schools previously estimating the need 800,000,000 through New York City public schools previously estimating the need at 1,000,000,000.
3:40:02
What is the plan to achieve maximum accessibilities, practical accessibilities in 20 years?
3:40:09
Parents, advocates, and myself called for 1,250,000,000 over 5 years.
John Hammer
3:40:16
We appreciate your advocacy for for physical accessibility of our schools, and know that we're that our team is doing a great job in in, taking on new projects with with these funds.
3:40:28
With the 800,000,000 in funding, we're on track to meet the goals that we've stated.
3:40:32
First goal was the selection of capital plan projects that will ensure full accessibility of all primary buildings in every school district.
3:40:40
We wanna increase that number from 33% to 40% upon completion, and we're on track towards that goal.
3:40:46
The second goal was the selection of a capital plan projects that ensured district 75 buildings in every school district increased to 75% accessible, including increasing the full accessibility of these district 75 buildings to 50% within every district upon completions.
3:41:04
We've started 50 projects that are underway that will allow us to to, to meet those those stated goals with that with that, with those resources.
3:41:14
If we were to secure 1,250,000,000 in funding, we would be able to increase goal 1 from 40% to 45%, and that would allow us to increase the number of projects from 50 to 100.
3:41:27
And and I know that a lot of these conversations around budget are ongoing, and and we, we appreciate your advocacy and support.
Rita Joseph
3:41:34
And what difference would that make for school accessibility?
John Hammer
3:41:37
We'd be we'd be able to take the number of projects that we're doing from 50 to 100, and and and at the end of those projects, 45% of our schools would be would be accessible.