Editorial

A worthy wish list for schools

Posted

While children (and some adults) are putting the finishing touches on their lists of must-have items for the holiday season, it seems like the right time to think of another such list — Community Board (CB) 8’s capital budget requests for the coming fiscal year.

City authorities rarely fund capital projects and expense requests from community boards around the five boroughs. But given how well many public schools in the northwest Bronx are doing with relatively limited resources, CB 8’s wish list deserves to be taken seriously.

CB 8 called for electrical upgrades for computers at the New School for Leadership and Arts. It is truly one of the city’s success stories, having transformed from an institution dreaded by its neighbors to a source of inspiration for a new generation of students. Their quarterly talent shows, including a winter holiday celebration, are a source of pride and joy for the community. It is a shame to think that students striving not just in the arts, but all subjects, have to cope with subpar computer equipment.

Our community board also requested air conditioner upgrades and new lockers at the Marie Curie High School. The institution was expected to be on the cusp of expanding its Advanced Placement class offerings earlier this year. Absent a benefactor like state Sen. Jeff Klein — who recently allocated a whopping $100,000 for air conditioning units and other items at the Spuyten Duyvil School (P.S. 24) — city agencies should step in to make sure the only thing boiling at the Marie Curie High School is students’ experiments.

CB 8 reported one of the fundamentals lacking at the Robert J. Christen School (P.S. 81). The 2016 fiscal year requests include funding for cafeteria tables at one of the most community-oriented elementary schools in the neighborhood. Amid the ongoing debate over healthy lunch for our students, a place to consume it should be a given.

CB 8, New School for Leadership and Arts, Marie Curie School, P.S. 81, Avonte Oquendo
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