By Helen Klein
Thanks to the refusal of New York State to contribute any money to the Department of Education’s five-year capital construction plan, a number of key projects may not be able to proceed as planned, including the long-awaited Midwood High School annex. The annex, which is intended to take the form of a science lab building with an extensive library, situated on the DOE-owned schoolyard across the street and connected to the main building by a bridge, was scheduled to start construction this year, as soon as the spring. However, according to DOE spokesperson Alicia Maxey, the project at the Bedford Avenue and Glenwood Road school is one of eight in the borough, and 23 around the city, listed by DOE as being in jeopardy because of lack of state funding. The city has committed $6.5 billion to help fund the $13 billion 2005-2009 capital plan, and has made it clear that it expected the remainder of the money to be provided by the state. Elusive CFE Funds Deputy Chancellor Kathleen Grimm, who heads up the finance and administration division of DOE, said that the city educational system was entitled to $9.1 billion in 2004 dollars from New York State, based on the judge’s decision in the lawsuit filed by the Campaign for Fiscal Equity (CFE), a grass roots organization that sued the state for systematically shortchanging city schools of funding and thereby reneging on their obligation to provide city students with a “sound basic education.” But, so far, the state has refused to pony up. “Last year,” noted Grimm, during a phone interview, “ it became quite evident that the state was not going to give us the money.” To keep the capital plan moving forward in its first year, Grimm said that, in 2005, Mayor Michael Bloomberg had put in not only the city’s $1.3 billion portion for the year, but had also “advanced another $1.3 billion,” to cover the projected state funding that was necessary to keep the capital plan on track. The good news was that projects scheduled for the first year were able to proceed. But, the reality is that, in the second year of the plan, “The last four years are denuded” of funding, said Grimm. “Here we are in January, 2006, and we haven’t gotten a cent,” she pointed out. When DOE had issued its draft amendment to the capital plan last month, she added, “We said we have a problem. The mayor can’t advance any more money, because there’s no more to advance, so we indicated the proposals now at risk. “We could put the Midwood annex out to contract if we had state money,” Grimm added. “That’s what’s so terrible about this. We have the site, we’ve done the design and we’re all ready to go, if we had the money.” Eliminate Overcrowding A major goal of the 2005-2009 capital plan, which calls for the construction of 107 new schools, was to, “Totally eliminate overcrowding in the city, as well as to eliminate trailers,” Grimm emphasized. “This plan was totally based on need.” Midwood, she said, is currently at 171 percent of capacity. In the case of the Midwood annex, the $27.5 million plan would provide students with an additional 340 seats in a three-story building that would also include a 6,000 square foot library. There would be 10 science demonstration rooms, four labs, plus administrative areas. The opening of the new science annex would allow the renovation of the school’s current science facilities for classroom space. The annex would occupy approximately 18,000 square feet of the 67,600 square foot schoolyard that is attached to the Public School 152/Public School 315 educational complex, with the remainder of the schoolyard renovated as a play space that could be used by children attending the two schools during the school day and by neighborhood children at other times. Open Area for Play It is this play space that is a major concern of area residents, who had initially targeted the schoolyard for a playground that was funded and designed before DOE brought forward its science annex proposal. Working with the School Construction Authority (SCA), members of the South Midwood Residents’ Association (SMRA) had helped develop plans for the open space that would be beneficial in a neighborhood where open space is distinctly at a premium. Julian Alssid, the president of SMRA, noted, “I feel that people in this community put a lot of work in to the project, and neighborhood kids are in dire need of appropriate outdoor space. The vast majority of people in the neighborhood would be very disappointed if the project didn’t happen. While the annex is still controversial, it would be a shame if another generation of children have to grow up without appropriate outdoor play space.” As for the annex, he said, “The attitude of most people I’ve spoken with is that if it’s going to ensure that Midwood has a top-flight program, it’s not a bad thing for our community.” Susannah Laskaris, a member of SMRA who has been deeply involved in planning for the open space to accompany the Midwood annex, decried the potential loss of the project that she said would be a “win-win” for both those who wanted open space and those who wanted a state-of-the-art lab for Midwood. “To go yet another 10 years with undeveloped open space, jeopardizes children’s future of maximizing playtime outside and of maximizing learning in the lab,” Laskaris stressed. “Already there’s been 12 years of this being undeveloped. The plans now in place are a viable solution to both Midwood’s overcrowding and the need for open space for the children in the elementary schools for the community. It would be an unbelievable waste of political power to pull the plug on this for another 10 years.” Potential Construction Gridlock One situation that may be alleviated if the construction of the annex is delayed is the confluence of construction projects facing South Midwood, noted area resident Warren Dingott. Pointing out that Midwood was already in the throes of an exterior renovation, Dingott ticked off the other projects that could be going on simultaneously – not just the annex construction, but extensive construction at Brooklyn College, and mall construction at the site of the former municipal parking lot at the Junction. “There are going to be cement trucks and construction equipment rolling through this neighborhood both day and night,” remarked Dingott. “If the annex is postponed, that would make things somewhat easier for all concerned.” While Dingott said he did not think the annex project would ultimately be shelved, he said that he, “Would be happy if the original project envision when Lloyd Henry was in the council” could be revived. “It would afford the neighborhood some breathing space, some green space,” Dingott opined. “The area being offered in conjunction with the Midwood annex is paltry compared to what was offered in Lloyd Henry’s time. I think the kids should really be the priority,” he concluded, suggesting, “There are alternatives that could be worked out within Midwood” to accommodate the needed science labs. Florence Valentino, a South Midwood resident who is also a member of Community Board 14, agreed. “In view of the fact that they have this project going on at the main school, even proposing to start work on the annex across the street is unconscionable for the neighborhood,” she contended. “If it doesn’t go forward, I’m not going to be shedding any tears. “I think the elementary school kids are being shortchanged in this,” she went on. “I’m not against Midwood. I’m an alum, and my son is too. But, they are trying to sell the annex as a way to relieve overcrowding, and it’s not. It’s going to be for 300 of the school’s best students. If it were for overcrowding, you couldn’t argue it.” Looking Ahead Beyond the 23 schools listed by DOE as being in jeopardy are many schools that are considerably less advanced in terms of planning. As many as 80 to 90 of the schools proposed in the plan are in jeopardy, said Grimm, who pointed out that the 23 schools listed by DOE as being at risk are “just this year. “I hate to talk in these terms,” she remarked, “But the state has got to do this. Upstate, new construction is almost entirely paid for by the state. That’s not true here, and it’s not right. Why should our schools be built with city money when schools in Hartsdale are reimbursed? We send tax money to Albany so we help reimburse Hartsdale, so why shouldn’t the state help us? The state should assume responsibility.” It’s not too late for the state to allocate funding for DOE’s capital plan. “There’s still time for Albany to get money to us this year,” Grimm remarked. “People should be calling their assemblymembers and state senators.” D-day for decision making, should Albany not come up with funding for the capital plan, is April 1st, according to Brian McGinn, the manager of operations and intergovernmental relations for the SCA, who spoke about the situation at the January meeting of the District 22 Community Education Council (CEC). According to McGinn, DOE is currently rating projects on a scale of one to five, and deciding which things to axe if state money is not forthcoming.
