PS 24 parents opt for 'lesser of evils' to house students

Faced with the impending loss of an annex for fifth-grade students, the Spuyten Duyvil School’s (P.S. 24) Parents’ Association plans to ask the School Construction Authority (SCA) to squeeze more students into three classrooms at the 660 W. 236th St. building and house others at the nearby David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (RKA, M.S./H.S. 141).

PA Co-President Bob Heisler described the option as “the lesser of three evils” to emerge from a meeting of school officials, politicians and others earlier this month. The chosen proposal is a mix of plans to house all of the students at either P.S. 24 or RKA.

Mr. Heisler told attendees at a Dec. 16 meeting of P.S. 24’s Parents’ Association that the PA’s space committee will send a letter to the SCA requesting its preferred option. Under the plan, three rooms near the lunchroom that are currently being used for one-on-one therapy would be converted into full-sized classrooms. The therapists would move into a series of smaller rooms above the gymnasium that are currently being used for storage.

“They can very adequately handle the function of staffing one-on-one conversations with kids, that kind of thing,” Mr. Heisler said.

P.S. 24 would take also over two classrooms inside RKA, located at 660 W. 237th St. Mr. Heisler said the classrooms were originally built for use by P.S. 24, and have a separate entrance.

Several parents expressed concern that using the rooms across the street would take away space at RKA.

“They are busting at the seams,” said one parent. “What happens when they need more space?”

Using the most recent numbers from this semester, RKA is operating at 98-percent capacity. With enrollment trending up, chances are the school will be over capacity next year — like many schools in the northwest Bronx.

It is not clear what grade would occupy the two classrooms at RKA. PA Co-President Laura Moukas said she understands the decision would be up to P.S. 24’s administration or the DOE.

Although the plan involves five new classrooms, there are currently six classes of fourth graders at P.S. 24. Some parents expressed concern over the apparent gap.

“I’m hoping for the best. I just hope five classrooms is enough,” said Susanne Miller, whose child is in the fourth grade.