Officials, Parents Celebrate Victory For Schools

Calling it a major victory for educators and students, legislators, parents and local officials gathered at Benjamin N. Cardozo High School last Friday to celebrate the restoration of $1.3 billion to the Department of Education’s (DOE) Five-Year Capital Plan, bringing the city’s total contribution to Education Capital Construction to $2.6 billion.
The restoration of the funds in fiscal year (FY) 2005 is an effort by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to make up for the shortfall caused by the state’s failure to fulfill its obligation to fund capital investment in city schools.
In a statement released to The Queens Courier, Bloomberg said, “While the delays in capital work caused by the State’s failure to provide the capital money have been minimal up to now, our children deserve the best facilities we can possibly provide. The total contribution that the City is making to the plan will not change, but we will double our commitment in the first year of the plan to $2.6 billion to make up for the State’s shortfall.”
He continued, “I look forward to working with the Governor and the leadership of the State Assembly and Senate to expedite the delivery of this necessary money to New York City.”
“How do we ensure a sound education, when we cannot ensure dry classrooms, audible announcements and up-to-date fire alarms,” said Councilman David Weprin, whose district (District 23) stood to lose $28 million in repairs in just one year.”
Cardozo itself, which is classified as a SIRA school (one set to get a School Improvement and Restructuring Allocation), had been slated to lose $8,514,673 in projects, which included an auditorium upgrade, flood contingency, low voltage electrical systems and windows. These monies have since been restored.
“I think it’s fantastic,” said David Pinzon, co-president of the President’s Council for District 26. “It’s great that the mayor saw that schools are underfunded when it comes to capital improvements. You can’t improve schools without adequate facilities.”
The capital plan is the first time the city has requested a match in capital construction funding from the state.