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Q&A
Updates on Temporary Classroom Unit (TCU) removals
6:26:49
ยท
3 min
Council Member Rita Joseph inquires about the progress of removing Temporary Classroom Units (TCUs) from schools. Nina Kubota from the SCA provides updates on the current status and plans for removal.
- 23 TCUs remain without a removal plan, down from 24
- 54 other temporary structures identified, with 16 already slated for removal
- $250 million allocated for TCU removal
- Main challenge is finding appropriate spaces for students during the removal process
Rita Joseph
6:26:49
And I always like the fact that you also include student voice.
6:26:52
Right?
6:26:53
That's very important.
6:26:54
I always say that.
6:26:55
You're planning, are you planning with students or just for them?
6:26:58
Correct.
6:26:58
So I know this process, students get a voice to plan this, so that's really good.
6:27:03
TCU, this one is gonna be for council member as well Felice.
6:27:08
The TCU updates, can you please update us?
6:27:12
In a TCU recent years?
6:27:14
The last updates were 24 TCUs were left with having 16, a removal plan, and with all the 24 TCUs removed, what does that look like for us?
Nina Kubota
6:27:25
So recently we have identified one additional site, so we're down to 23 not having a removal plan yet.
6:27:34
That one I mentioned in my testimony at PS one hundred six in Queens, It will allow us to remove that TCU once we find or once we build the replacement site.
6:27:46
So we are down to five sites with 23 TCUs.
6:27:52
And also I had I think I mentioned that of the other temporary structures, so typically the bigger TCU type, there are fifty four and sixteen have been identified for removal already.
6:28:06
So we're making pretty good strides there.
Rita Joseph
6:28:10
Is there a plan as we talk about building any of the sites we look at to see if we can build an addicts from that school from those removing of the TCUs?
6:28:21
First deputy chancellor agrees.
6:28:22
Good.
Nina Kubota
6:28:23
Absolutely.
6:28:24
I think PS 96 is a good example of where we were able to build an annex, get them a gym that which they didn't have, a music room, art room, and now we can remove the TCU.
6:28:34
So we are always looking.
6:28:36
We also want to maintain some level of play space, outdoor play space for children, so it's kind of a balance.
Rita Joseph
6:28:41
Especially in communities where we lack green space, so having those playgrounds, and that's why council member Brewer talk about the school to playground program a lot in communities where there's a lack of access to green space.
6:28:54
So those play an important role in that.
6:28:59
If additional funding needed to be added to for SCA, Does SCA have an estimate?
Nina Kubota
6:29:07
So right now we have $250,000,000.
6:29:10
I think the and so far, again, we have the 23 TCUs and then we have the 54 other transportables.
6:29:22
I don't think it's a question of money at this point.
6:29:24
It's really what do we do with the children.
6:29:27
We don't want to disrupt operations.
6:29:28
We don't want to, you know, shove them into a building.
6:29:31
So it's really just working with the school and the school community to make sure that that happens.
6:29:36
So don't think it's funding at this point, it's really school's operations.
Rita Joseph
6:29:40
School operation, what do we put them in?
6:29:42
Provide the spaces that they don't need.
6:29:44
Some of these gyms are dilapidated as well.
6:29:46
So this would be an opportunity to build when we take off that TCU town.
6:29:52
See I remember.
6:29:58
Technology, we know our the exams are moving on online.
6:30:03
Are we doing inventory to see what's working in every single school?
6:30:07
Because the exams are what in April?
6:30:10
And they move from paper to pencil from pencil paper to online?