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“The website will be a fantastic tool that will help promote Italian culture and heritage to an even wider audience,” Sen. Addabbo said.
By Forum Staff
The long-awaited construction to add a new wing to PS 46 was scheduled to begin this week, City Councilman Barry Grodenchik (D-Oakland Gardens) announced Tuesday.
The expansion of the Oakland Gardens elementary school, also known as the Alley Pond School, will bring:
- 440 seats for pre-k through grade 5
- 2 pre-k classrooms
- 2 kindergarten classrooms
- 12 classrooms for grades 1-5
- 7 special education classrooms
- 2 reading/speech resource rooms
- 1 art classroom
- 1 music room
- 1 science resource room
- 1 guidance suite
- 1 medical suite
- 1 administrative suite
- 1 parent/community room
- 1 kitchen/student dining area
- 1 staff lunch/conference room
The new addition is the result of support from Grodenchik, New York City School Construction Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Grillo, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing), State Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky (D-Flushing), and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Flushing). PS 46 Principal Stamo Karalazarides requested the expansion to accommodate the growing student body.
“This project alleviates overcrowding at PS 46 so that the school can continue to provide a premier educational experience to students,” Grodenchik said. “PS 46 is a 2020 National Blue Ribbon school, one of the best in the city. With additional space, the school will surely reach new heights of excellence.”
The SCA anticipates work to begin as early as this week with the installation of a temporary and protective fence around the playground perimeter; tree protection in the playground; and installation of a temporary ramp on 219th Street. The project is expected to be complete in time for the September 2023 school year.
“This new addition at PS 46Q is part of the plan to add more than 2,500 new seats to reduce overcrowding in District 26 and provide our students with the space and resources they need to learn and grow,” Grillo said. “I would like to thank Council Member Grodenchik for his support of our 2020-2024 Capital Plan, which is bringing more than 24,000 seats to our most overcrowded districts in Queens.”
Meng added, “I am pleased to learn that construction of PS 46’s new wing is finally moving forward. The project will greatly improve the school by increasing the number of seats and specialty classrooms and suites to reduce overcrowding and better facilitate learning. I look forward to these additions serving students, teachers and staff for many years to come, and I congratulate the PS 46Q community. Thank you to Council Member Grodenchik and all who played a role in making this expansion a reality.”
Stavisky said, “I am pleased to see the PS 46 expansion project getting underway, after a brief but necessary delay. By nearly doubling the enrollment of Alley Pond elementary school, this project will provide additional opportunities for students within our community. It is imperative that we make sure our young students have access to a quality learning environment with up-to-date facilities, and this $50 million upgrade will help ensure that for years to come. Council Member Barry Grodenchik’s stewardship will be appreciated by generations of students.”
Photo Courtesy of NYC SCA
