City Accelerates School Construction Program In Queens Six Additional Schools In Three Years

Hailing the mayors educational budget, Queens Borough President Claire Shulman said, "Mr. Giuliani is doing the right thing, he is building schools where they are needed the most."
Emphasizing the mayors concern, a study just released by Public Advocate Mark Green claimed that three quarters of Queens 174 elementary public schools are operating at more than 99 percent of their capacities.
This new direction further speeds up the citys $1.7 billion, 43,000 classroom-seat massive school capital construction plan for Queens, reported by The Queens Courier two weeks ago. It had initially called for 34 new schools, and expansion of 13 existing facilities, to be completed by 2009.
All 11 schools scheduled for the construction speed-up were initially slated to be opened on, or after, September 2006.
The speed-up plan calls for the construction of six new schools in school districts 24, 26, and 29. containing over 4,069 seats. It also calls for the rapid construction of the 897-seat Law & Justice High School on Guy R. Brewer Blvd. and 116 St. in Jamaica.
The Board of Education has announced plans for 10 more new high schools to be built in Queens that will accommodate 8,400 students. Sites for these units have not been determined.