Senator Ruben Diaz, Community Leader Luis Sepulveda and District Leader Julia Rodriguez to hold rally at I.S 125

Senator Ruben Diaz, Community Leader Luis Sepulveda

and District Leader Julia Rodriguez to hold rally at I.S 125

Senator Ruben Diaz along with Community Leader Luis Sepulveda and District Leader Julia Rodriguez will be holding a rally with the parents of both P.S. 119 and I.S. 125 protesting the overcrowding at the schools and the Board of Education's intent to add another school at I.S. 125 located at 1111 Pugsley Avenue in the Bronx.

According to Senator Diaz, "the schools are compelled to share space. The teachers are forced to share resources. The average class size exceeds 25 students. The teachers are stressed. This is not a conducive environment to teach our children. The plans of the Board of Education to add more students to the building is absurd and baffling. The parents are up in arms about this plan and I will not stand for this."

According to Mr. Sepulveda, "at I.S. 125, there is one bathroom for 600 students. On a daily basis, throughout the day, because of lack of space, kindergarten and first grade children are moved like cattle between P.S. 119 and I.S. 125. This is unacceptable. Would the Mayor and Chancellor Walcott tolerate this teaching environment for their families?"

Julia Rodriguez, a long-time advocate for education in the community, also helped organize the parents. For over a month, she has met with them and documented their complaints.

The rally will take place tomorrow, Thursday, March 1st, 2012 at 3:00 PM at 1111 Pugsley Avenue between Haviland and Watson Avenues in the Bronx.

For more information, please contact Brendaliz Candelaria at 718-991-3161 or Community Leader Luis Sepulveda at 347-582-1173.