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Request for solutions to activate mothballed sites and address overcapacity at PS8
2:04:05
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153 sec
Council Member Restler presses for solutions to activate mothballed early childhood education sites and addresses overcapacity issues at PS8.
- Restler expresses frustration with paying rent for unused sites that have already received capital improvements
- He calls for actual solutions to activate these sites and provide needed early childhood seats
- The discussion shifts to PS8, which is facing overcapacity issues despite a previous expansion
- Restler highlights that every grade from kindergarten to third grade is over the class size capacity
- He expresses frustration with getting conflicting directions from DOE and SCA (School Construction Authority) when seeking solutions
- The council member emphasizes the desire to maintain the current catchment area for PS8
Lincoln Restler
2:04:05
Certainly want to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
2:04:07
We have a need for seats in our community and we look at a mothballed site in a private building that we put a bunch of money into the capital repairs and then we're paying rent.
2:04:14
That is infuriating.
2:04:16
And so really I mean, I I I had a positive meeting with deputy chancellor Vadera, which I appreciate her time.
2:04:22
But then the follow-up we get is being stonewalled.
2:04:24
So I'm really looking for actual solutions.
2:04:26
We have meeting with deputy chancellor Hawkins later this month.
2:04:28
I really am looking to activate this site provide the early childhood seats that our community desperately needs.
2:04:33
Last thing is, if I can, Chair Joseph, one quick question.
2:04:37
I know there are many schools like this around the city, but I'm going to cite PS8 as an example, where around the corner from Deputy Chancellor Weisberg.
2:04:45
We added a 72 seats in a twenty eleven expansion.
2:04:49
We're at 594 seats today, think.
2:04:51
We're way over capacity again even after building the expansion.
2:04:55
And every kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade seat is over this class size capacity.
2:05:00
It's a great school.
2:05:02
And I go to deputy chancellor Vadera and I say, we want to work together, figure out a way to expand the site.
2:05:06
She says go to SCA.
2:05:08
So I go to SCA, I say we want to figure it out.
2:05:10
Can we make it work?
2:05:11
They say go to DOE.
2:05:13
We can't help you.
2:05:13
So I'm getting the runaround, and I don't want to see the catchment area for this school change.
2:05:18
It's a great school that serves the neighborhood.
2:05:21
How are we gonna make this work?
2:05:22
Who can I work with to actually identify real solutions?
Daniel Weisberg
2:05:24
Yeah.
2:05:25
So Oh,
Lincoln Restler
2:05:26
sorry.
2:05:26
Or whatever you want.
2:05:27
You can both talk.
Daniel Weisberg
2:05:29
I'll take the PSA question since it's my alma mater, my kid's alma mater, my dad's alma mater from the nineteen thirties.
Jeff Klein
2:05:36
You
Daniel Weisberg
2:05:37
know?
2:05:37
No no joke.
2:05:38
Way way before that 20 That's why we take care of our constituents.
2:05:41
So it So this is an example of high demand schools we have all over the city.
2:05:49
We don't want to give you the runaround, so we should have a real conversation.
2:05:52
I will be part of that conversation, council member, with SEA.
2:05:55
But it points up one of the challenges we have with the class size law, is the available space in PSA, which was in the schoolyard, was used to build an annex.
2:06:05
There's not really space in that footprint.
2:06:07
And as you can imagine, buying a parcel close to that area is Impossible.
2:06:12
Impossible.
2:06:13
So we face real challenges.
2:06:15
What we don't want to do, we're with you 100%, is shrink the catchment area, exclude parents who want to send their kids, or tell parents you can't enroll in kindergarten, you have to go somewhere else.
2:06:29
So these are real challenges and trade offs.
2:06:31
There's not going to be an easy answer for a PS eight or other high demand schools.
2:06:35
But there might be some creative solutions, so that's why I would love to
Lincoln Restler
2:06:39
sit down with And I want to work with you on those creative solutions.