Re: your article “Room for Improvement” (Nov. 27 – Dec. 10).  It’s unfortunate to read about the shortcomings of the five-year plan for school construction in addressing overcrowding in District 10. As a parent in the article mentioned, overcrowding is forcing many schools to convert long cherished arts spaces into general classrooms. Music rooms, dance and performance spaces and art studios are being divided, walled and converted, and arts offerings, such as the dance program at the school on the Kennedy High School campus, are being eliminated. This is not an isolated occurrence. A recent survey of New York City principals revealed that 25 percent reported losing art, music, dance or drama spaces to general education classrooms. Extrapolated to the whole system, that’s several hundred schools that may have lost their arts space in recent years.

While easing overcrowding and providing adequate classroom space for public school students should be a top priority for the city, this should not be done by seizing and converting dedicated facilities necessary to support learning in the arts. Bronx parents should let their principals and elected officials know that this is not acceptable. The Department of Education should ensure that arts spaces in public schools are preserved and develop a plan to reclaim those arts spaces that have already been lost.  All of New York City’s schoolchildren deserve the arts education they are entitled to by state law.

Doug Israel