Two District 20 Schools Approved For Extensions

Brooklyn- State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C, Brooklyn) , with Carlo Scissura, the President of Community Education Council District 20, today are announcing that both Public School 163 and McKinley Junior High School, I.S. 259, have been approved for extensions by the New York City Department of Education.

Senator Marty Golden proposed school expansion projects at both of these schools in official communications with both the New York City School Construction Authority and the New York City Department of Education last Spring. The Community Education Council of District 20 supported and advocated for these expansion as well.

The proposal put forth seeks the construction of an extension in the school yard of I.S. 259, located at 7301 Fort Hamilton Parkway, to include a lunchroom and restrooms. In relation to the Public School 163 request, located at 1664 Benson Avenue, for the reason that the school is a feeder school for children of active military members stationed at Fort Hamilton Army Base, an extension in the school yard has been requested.

Senator Marty Golden, a member of the State Senate Education Committee, stated, "I am pleased to have played a leading role in reaching an agreement that dedicated significant financial resources towards capital improvements for public schools throughout the City of New York. I am excited that we now hear of the first of that money being spent in District 20. Both I.S. 259 and P.S. 163 are extremely overcrowded, with no space at all left for teaching or instruction. I have always said, our children should not have to learn in a crowded classroom, and it is my hope that overcrowding at these two fine schools will become a thing of the past."

Senator Golden, who was a leading advocate for New York City obtaining it’s fair share of education funding, joined with then Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg in April, 2006, to announce $12 billion in State Capital funding for New York City School Construction Aid Package. Golden also approved $600 million in operating expenses for public schools within the five boroughs.

Carlo Scissura, President of Community Education Council 20, stated, "The McKinley and P.S. 163 extensions were at the top of our legislative agenda for 2007-2010. We applaud the SCA and DOE for following the lead of the District 20 Community Education Council in pushing for these important projects. These expansions will relieve the overcrowding at McKinley and Dyker. The CEC looks forward to rezoning PS 163 as a K to 8 school and assisting McKinley in expanding their programs."

Scissura continued, "The CEC thanks Senator Golden, Principals Janice Geary and Maryann Wasmuth and Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm for their diligence in supporting these important and much needed projects. This shows the importance of the District 20 annual legislative agenda, and the continued need for community support for our local schools."

Senator Marty Golden concluded, "School construction in our community is long overdue and the ground can not be broken soon enough. Classrooms will soon flourish throughout our school district and we will make a true, significant impact on overcrowding that is plaguing our community and effecting how our children learn."

Senator Marty Golden earlier this year announced the expansion of New Utrecht High School. The project is currently in the design phase for a new building with a basement, 13 new classrooms with a capacity for 340 students, as well as a new student cafeteria, a second student cafeteria, a kitchen, and a new teacher’s cafeteria. The existing mezzanine will be converted to offices.

Additionally, Public School 229 is set to expand to Pre-K to 8th Grade by September 2009, with the building of an extension to house an additional 600 students. The project is in the design phase which will be completed by Summer 2007. Construction will begin in September 2007.