Standing Room Only In Queens Schools

Queens 270,000 public school students will continue to see SRO signs at their classroom entrances, according to a construction cutback report issued by the New York City Independent Budget Office [IBO].
Until the IBO published its report, the public was not aware that Mayor Michael Bloomberg had halted construction of nine new facilities, and curtailed expansion of two schools in five crowded borough school districts. The projects would have provided an additional 8,425 seats for the boroughs space-starved pupils whose schools are operating at a 108 percent capacity rate108 students for every 100 seats.
The IBO says that the construction costs of the deferred projects "will be borne in the next five-year plan, which begins in 2005." This new schedule could push back construction programs at least another three years.
Queens was the citys hardest hit borough, losing nearly half of the citys school seats that were canceled. Also adding to the construction delay, according to the IBO, is the citys recent decision to merge the School Construction Authority with the Education Departments Division of School Facilities. This latest move is aimed at lowering the cost of school construction.
This is the second time in less than a year that the construction of new schools and the addition of new seats has been postponed. Last December, after school officials announced that there was a funding shortfall of $2.4 billion, the IBO said that the Queens school systems five year capital construction plan was curtailed by 5,175 seats. The latest announcementthe second in 10 monthsdefers an additional 3,250 seats.
Queens BP Helen Marshall called the latest budget slashes, "devastating," and said that corrective measures would be discussed at the boroughs monthly meeting. Reports issued by the borough president show that only two Queens school districts, SD 25 and 26, have averaged adequate classroom space. Significantly, these two districts have racked up the highest 4th and 8th grade math and English test scores.
Little attention was paid to last months construction cancellation announcement in Queens, until the IBO announced that the new schedule represented nearly half of a citywide cutback. Unofficial sources predicted the possibility of another 30% cut during the coming months,
Hardest hit school districts were:
SD 24 (Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights) the construction of PS 246; additional classroom construction at PS 650, PS 110, and four facilities, for a total of 2,357 seats.
SD 25 (Flushing, College Point, Whitestone) the construction of PS 244, and a building addition. Two facilities, for a total of 633 seats.
SD 27 (Jamaica, Howard Beach, Rockaway) The construction of an early childhood center, and a building addition. Two units, for a total of 520 seats.
SD 29 (Queens Village, Rosedale, Hollis) the construction of PS 263, for a total of 704 seats.
SD 30 (L.I.C., Astoria, Steinway) the construction of IS 1200, for a total 1,200 seats.
The construction of HS of Hospitality and Business Management, for a total of 1,200 seats.
The Independent Budget Office is a quasi-public agency, whose mission, since 1996, is to provide non-partisan economic analysis for city residents and their public officials.
"I understand budget problems but Queens population continues to grow. The overcrowding in Queens is historic. A lot of people talk about education being a priority, but rhetoric does not build schools," said former Borough President Claire Shulman. Shulman also advocated for the federal government to step in and provide more services for new immigrants.