Norwood News

As the city continues to review the  possibility of building a new elementary school on Webster Avenue, parents and activists wanted to know how it will affect other schools and if it will alleviate the chronic overcrowding problems in the area.

The proposed school, slated to open in the fall of 2010, at 3177 Webster Ave., between East 204th and 205th streets, is currently a 45,000-square-foot parking lot. Design plans have not been finalized, as the School Construction Authority (SCA) is still in the siting phase of the project, but officials told residents at a public hearing last Wednesday that the school will be five stories high and accommodate 612 students.

With $50 million allocated for the project, William Havemann, a Department spokesperson, said the school will have a library and a gymnatorium (a gym and auditorium combination), and will be set up for Internet use. The SCA plans to use only half of the space for the school, and the other half as a playground. (Two current building projects in the area, at PS 94 and 95, are being built on former playground space.) 

Some parents say one new school isn’t enough.

“Unfortunately, we have the most overcrowding in all of the Bronx,” said Mary Corsey, 54, a leader with the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. Corsey has two grandchildren attending PS 86 in Kingsbridge Heights. “School construction has taken care of other areas in the Bronx and not this area.”

Fernando Tirado, district manager for Community Board 7, asked if the new school would alleviate overcrowding at nearby PS 56 and allow them to remove trailers that house additional students.

Kenrick Ou, SCA’s director of real estate services, said the DOE would look into the issue. Ou and other officials at the public meeting did not say if the new school will alleviate overcrowding at nearby schools, if the new school will be zoned or if more new schools were coming to District 10.

In 2006, the DOE cut 1,700 seats from the 2005-2009 capital plan, claiming that the district did not need the seats. In 2008, a report by the city comptroller said District 10 was the third most overcrowded district in the entire city. This past fall, the DOE acknowledged that the district could benefit from more schools, but only added 400 new seats.

Though a welcome development to many parents, not everyone cared to see a school built in the area.

Ralph, who declined to give his last name and works at the auto shop directly across from the parking lot, said his shop uses the lot to store cars. “I don’t know where people are gonna park,” he said. “They’re gonna have to start parking cars in people’s living rooms.”

Ed. note: The DOE is taking written comments regarding the new school until May 11. Residents can send letters to the School Construction Authority, 30-30 Thompson Ave., Long Island City, New York 11101.