After years of lobbying, P.S. 97, The Highlawn School will finally see the permanent end of their four Temporary Classroom Units (TCUs) that are currently situated in the back of the main school building.
That after City Council Member Mark Treyger (Bensonhurst, Coney Island, Gravesend) today announced that the school at 1855 Stillwell in Gravesend will soon see construction of 450 new school seats including a new classroom,cafeteria, gymnasium, art room and music room – thus eliminating the need for the TCUs that are part of many public schools in Brooklyn.
“Coupled with P.S. 101, there will be over $100 million in investment here in our community to really accommodate the growing needs of the district. We are a rapidly growing and evolving community, which means our needs are broader. Today’s announcement really underscores the commitment and the recognition to address that need,” said Treyger.
Making the announcement with Treyger was Department of Education Chancellor Elizabeth Rose, District 21 Superintendent Isabel Dimola, P.S. 97 Principal Irina Cabello, and Melanie La Rocca from the School Construction Authority.
The extension came as a result of parents and education advocates concerns over the overcrowding at the school as well as at P.S. 101. According to the Courier’s Life, discussions between the Department of Education and the District 21 Community Education Council began back in late 2010.
“We are also pleased to provide an extension to a school that is so exemplary of our goals of strong teaching, of welcoming all of our students, especially English Language learners and students with disabilities to be sewn in so seamlessly with their school,” said Rose, adding the school extension part of the City’s initiative to completely eliminate TCUs citywide.
P.S. 97 Parents also expressed their excitement and hope for the future of the school as their children previously studied in the TCUs.
“It’s very exciting, my daughter was in the trailer for Pre-K and I do feel that it’s going to be better that all of the kids are going to be in the same building because they do come in for science or art, my daughter would say, ‘we went into the big school today!’ They would think of it as if it was a different school,” said Danielle Korn, who currently has two children attending the school.
Another parent mentioned how exciting it was that music and art programs would be expanding as her youngest son hasn’t had a music class since he was in the 2nd grade.
According to NY1, Mayor Bill de Blasio has made art and music a major focus of his administration spending $400 million dollars in 2015 for art education classes.
The extension will cost over $100 million and has an approximate completion date of 2021.
“We are not displacing or losing kids or staff. Now P.S. 97 will have new opportunities, new possibilities for our kids, for our parents, for our families, and our community,” said Treyger.
