Mayor Bill de Blasio, left, and Council Members Daniel Dromm and Jimmy Van Bramer visit a fourth grade arts class at PS 69 in Monday. Photo by Ed Reed/NYC Mayor’s Office
Navigating a sea of students and educators at the notoriously overcrowded PS 69 in Jackson Heights on Monday, Mayor Bill de Blasio outlined major reforms slated for city schools – including funding to alleviate classrooms teeming with students and a contract with the United Federation of Teachers.
During his visit to the jampacked Queens school, the mayor said he has included in his budget, which is not set in stone, a $4.4 billion capital investment to address school overcrowding – something that has plagued borough facilities for years. Additionally, the mayor spoke about a $20 million increase in arts education and $300 million from the state budget for full-day universal pre-kindergarten for the city’s 4-year-olds.
The mayor and City Council are still in negotiations over the budget, and a final budget will have to be agreed upon by July 1, the beginning of the next fiscal year.
“These aren’t pilot programs that help a lucky few; they are foundational changes that will lift up schools in every neighborhood,” said de Blasio, who was joined at PS 69 by city Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña and Council Members Danny Dromm (D-Jackson Heights), chairman of the Council’s Education Committee, and Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside) – all of whom praised the changes to the city’s educational landscape.
“Instituting universal pre-kindergarten, expanding middle school after-school programs, and dedicating $20 million to increase arts programs are all things that will help ensure that this generation of public school students will succeed,” said Dromm, who was a public school teacher for years before becoming a legislator.
Among the reforms discussed Monday was the UFT contract, which de Blasio said will bring a greater voice for parents by doubling the number of evening parent-teacher conferences from two to four each year.
In addition to the $4.4 billion capital investment for new school space, de Blasio said the Department of Education will, in his proposed budget plan, devote $480 million to remove temporary classroom units and rehabilitate play yards where the trailers had been located.
By Anna Gustafson
