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Q&A
Council Member Rita Joseph questions SCA and DOE officials on school leases, accessibility, and funding
6:14:53
ยท
4 min
Council Member Rita Joseph engages in a Q&A session with representatives from the School Construction Authority (SCA) and New York City Public Schools regarding various aspects of school infrastructure and accessibility. The discussion covers topics such as expiring school site leases, funding for school accessibility improvements, and the timeline for achieving maximum practical accessibility in schools, particularly for District 75 schools serving students with special needs.
- The SCA confirms that seven school sites have leases expiring through 2026 and agrees to provide a detailed list.
- Officials explain that the recent $2 billion debt limit increase was specifically earmarked for new capacity to comply with class size requirements, not for accessibility improvements.
- The discussion reveals that with $1 billion allocated per capital plan, maximum practical accessibility could be achieved in 15 years instead of 20, with District 75 schools reaching 75% accessibility by the end of the current plan.
Rita Joseph
6:14:53
At the February 20 hearing, New York City Public Schools testified that six sites had leases that would expire in the next two years.
6:15:00
Will you be able to provide us with a list of those sites Sure,
Nina Kubota
6:15:05
absolutely.
6:15:05
We actually found because I think the question was two years and I think we only looked at through 2026, but there's one that expires October thirty first of twenty twenty six, so it's seven and we're happy to send you that list.
Rita Joseph
6:15:20
Okay, that would be wonderful.
6:15:21
Thank you.
6:15:22
Accessibility, at last year's budget hearing on preliminary plan we asked you a list of your priorities for additional funding if the state raised the debt limit.
6:15:32
SCA testified that one of three priority areas would be accessibility, however although the debt limit was raised New York City Public Schools and SCA has not included any additional funding for school accessibility in July, November, or February amended capital plans.
6:15:49
Is there room within that raised debt limit to increase funding for accessibilities?
Nina Kubota
6:15:54
So when that additional funding was received in July of last year, it was specifically the debt limit was raised and that $2,000,000,000 was specific to new capacity to help comply with class size compliance.
6:16:12
We were not able to redirect any of that funding to any other category.
Daniel Weisberg
6:16:17
And to be clear, chair, I mean, we we no one would be happier than than us, the chancellor, Emma Tom Turacco, if we had additional funding for accessibility to expand that program.
6:16:31
Certainly, can't comment based on all of the city capital needs what room there might be within the debt limit.
6:16:38
But if room does exist and we don't get it earmarked for other things for an expansion, we would be able to make very good use, very productive use of additional funds.
6:16:49
You know, we're proud of the program that we have with the 800,000,000, but we certainly could do more if we got additional capital funding.
Rita Joseph
6:16:56
And could you you may not have this with you.
6:16:58
Is it possible we can get a list of all your accessible schools and the ones that are partially accessible?
6:17:04
Because I know some of them are partially accessible.
UNKNOWN
6:17:08
We have over 900, building accessibility plans online on our website.
Rita Joseph
6:17:13
Mhmm.
UNKNOWN
6:17:13
So that will tell you a rating from one to 10 from partially accessible well, no accessibility, partially accessible, and then fully accessible being the nines and tens on that scale.
Daniel Weisberg
6:17:25
We'll we'll make sure your staff has that list broken down
Rita Joseph
6:17:27
up Thank you.
6:17:30
SCA has previously stated $1,000,000,000 per capital plan would allow SCA to reach your term maximum practical accessibility in the next twenty years.
6:17:39
Given that $800,000,000 is allocated in this plan, is the city further than twenty years away to the maximum practical accessibility?
6:17:50
There was a goal, That's why I'm asking that question.
UNKNOWN
6:17:55
If if we had the if we had a billion in every capital plan, you would make it in fifteen, I think you would make it.
Rita Joseph
6:18:02
It would be fifteen versus twenty years.
6:18:04
No.
6:18:05
No.
6:18:05
Okay.
6:18:06
How much funding would it take to get district seventy five schools to be fully accessible?
6:18:11
What does that look like?
UNKNOWN
6:18:12
Well, the one of the main things that we've shifted this year with and I have to give all credit to to our advocate partners who really taught us about our clients and our special needs students and parents with disabilities that we we've shifted our whole focus to District 75 now, and that's one of our main goals.
6:18:32
We'll be at 75% accessible options at the end of this plan.
6:18:37
Then to go to fully accessible, I would think one more plan, five years.
Rita Joseph
6:18:41
Five years.
UNKNOWN
6:18:41
You'll be to the top where if we go into a historically protected building or something like that, something we'll have to do.
6:18:48
But you'll you'll be at the practical ceiling after the
Rita Joseph
6:18:51
And how much would that cost us?
UNKNOWN
6:18:53
I think you would do it within that billion dollars.
Rita Joseph
6:18:55
Within that billion?
UNKNOWN
6:18:56
That's gonna remain the the focus of accessibility to to work
Rita Joseph
6:19:02
with
UNKNOWN
6:19:02
this
Rita Joseph
6:19:02
To make sure we bring it to a billion dollars so we're accessible.
6:19:05
If we bring it to a billion, does that take us to fifteen years?
6:19:09
That would that stay
UNKNOWN
6:19:10
still twenty?
6:19:11
The fifteen.
6:19:12
This is back of the envelope planning, but yes.
Rita Joseph
6:19:15
Okay.
6:19:16
Thank you.
6:19:16
I always appreciate that.
6:19:17
Thank you.
6:19:19
Thank you for that.