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Exploration of creative solutions for high-demand schools like PS8
2:06:39
ยท
52 sec
DOE officials and Council Member Restler discuss potential solutions for addressing overcapacity issues at high-demand schools like PS8.
- DOE officials acknowledge the challenges of expanding capacity in densely populated areas
- They explain that the available space at PS8 was already used for an annex, and acquiring nearby parcels is extremely difficult
- The discussion highlights the tension between maintaining class size requirements and accommodating all students in the catchment area
- DOE officials suggest that creative solutions might be necessary, given the limited options for physical expansion
- The conversation emphasizes the need to balance enrollment management with the desire to serve all families in the school's community
Lincoln Restler
2:06:39
sit down with And I want to work with you on those creative solutions.
2:06:40
Do you want to add some too?
Emma Vadehra
2:06:42
No.
2:06:42
I was going to say, really sorry I feel like you got the runaround because we really tried to work on that.
2:06:46
I do think, just to put what Dan is saying even more bluntly, there's two things to do in cases like that.
2:06:52
There's finding additional space that's close enough to the school.
2:06:55
I know we've talked about this in other contexts as well.
2:06:57
If the space is too far away, it's not really expanding the school's capacity.
2:07:01
It's finding additional space that's close to the school, which ain't easy around there.
2:07:06
And there's changing or capping enrollment.
2:07:09
There's three things.
2:07:10
There's changing or capping enrollment or there's eventually exemptions down the road.
2:07:14
And those are the paths that are available for schools like PS8.
2:07:17
Of course space is the ideal one, and that's what we will work with you and SCA to make sure nothing's being missed in the neighborhood and nothing else can be done.
2:07:27
But to the extent we don't want to be changing enrollment, those are the next few steps that are
Lincoln Restler
2:07:30
in us.