On Thursday February 2, Council Member Julissa Ferreras, joined by Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, State Assemblyman Jeff Aubry, State Senator Jose Peralta, and SCA President & CEO Lorraine Grillo, hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony for PS 287. It is the first of four new schools she and a coalition of parents have advocated to be built in the 21st Council District to help alleviate school overcrowding. PS 287 will be located at 110-08 Northern Blvd, and provide 420 new seats for students from Pre-K through 5th Grade. The school is set to open for the academic year beginning in September 2013.
“We are delighted to break ground for a new school that will serve the students of District 24 in Queens starting in the 2013-14 school year,” School Construction Authority President Lorraine Grillo said. “In this school, as with all new school construction projects, we will be incorporating a number of energy saving systems such as light sensors and computerized heating and air conditioning components.”
This new construction comes after strong advocacy from Council Member Ferreras and a coalition of parents to combat the pervasive school overcrowding in northwest Queens communities, where more than half of students attend an overcrowded school. Community School Districts 24 and 30 serve the fastest growing populations of immigrant students in New York City.
PS 287 is the first school to be built in the 21st Council District under Council Member Ferreras’ leadership. Since taking office, she has work closely with organizations such as Make the Road New York, Queens Congregation For Action, La Fuente NYCPP and local Parents Associations, forming the “Too Crowded to Learn” Coalition, to resolve unacceptable conditions in the district’s schools.
“As a former Beacon School director at PS 19, which is not only the most crowded school in my district, but also one of the most over crowded in the city and in the country, I know first-hand how overcrowding affects a school and the education students receive. This new school is the first of four in the district and a major step in the right direction toward remedying a serious education deficit in Queens. I thank the Department of Education, Chancellor Walcott, the School Construction Authority and the organizations who helped make today possible. I will continue to advocate for the highest quality education for the students of the 21st Council District.”
The community has been supportive of the effort to build new schools in the area. After extensive conversation, the interested parties decided the best location for the school would be at Northern Boulevard between 110th & 111th Streets. The communities’ other elected officials also support this new school, such as State Senator Jose Peralta.
“This community desperately needs this school,” State Senator Jose Peralta said. “And this community desperately needs this school to be the first of many. We are enormously appreciative of the commitment made by the mayor, schools chancellor and School Construction Authority to making a dent in the school overcrowding that has persisted here for decades. I applaud Council Member Ferreras for her efforts and will myself continue working hard and fighting to bring the resources to this community that our children deserve.”
Today’s groundbreaking is the start of what will be a long and fruitful partnership between Council Member Ferreras, DOE, and SCA as they construct new schools in the 21st Council District and build a stronger educational foundation for the communities’ many underserved children. The Too Crowded To Learn Coalition has been instrumental in the fight for additional schools in the district. “This is a historic moment for parents, students and the entire community that our pleas and needs have been heard. As a parent in Corona, I understand the relief these new developments will bring to my children’s academic and social development.” said Berta Flores, Parent Leader of La Fuente NYCPP
“Today is an important day for parents in Northwest Queens. It has been a dream of ours to have new schools in our district, so our children do not have to attend overcrowded facilities,” said Margarita Mendoza, a parent and member of Make the Road New York. “We applaud Council Member Julissa Ferreras for working with parents to ensure that our kids get the best education experience as possible.”