CB7 Public Hearing: NEW Early Childhood Center 07.18.07

COMMUNITY BOARD SEVEN, SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF SUNSET PARK, GREENWOOD HTS, SOUTH PARK SLOPE & WINDSOR TERRACE

PUBLIC HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2007 @ 6:30 P.M.

BOARD OFFICE, 4201 4TH AVENUE (ENTRANCE ON 43RD STREET.

THE PUBLIC HEARING WILL BE ON THE FOLLOWING ISSUE:

•Proposed site selection of Block #5799, Lot #38, located at the northwest corner of 4th Avenue & 63rd Street for the development of a new 380-seat (approximate ) early childhood center

COMMUNITY BOARD SEVEN’S SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE MET IN THE SPRING TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL SITES FOR FUTURE SCHOOLS, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED SITE AS A HIGH PRIORITY. THE BOARD VOTED ITS OVERWHELMING APPROVAL OF THE LIST OF LOCATIONS AND REACHED OUT TO THE DOE. BOARD MEMBERS WERE HAPPILY SURPRISED BY THE SWIFT RESPONSE AS THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY CONTACTED THE BOARD TO ASK FOR A LOCAL PUBLIC HEARING ON SITE ACQUISITION OF THE PROPERTY, WHICH WOULD BE HOME TO A NEW SCHOOL FOR PRE-K THROUGH SECOND GRADE.

COMMUNITY BOARD CHAIRMAN RANDOLPH PEERS STATED “THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING NEED FOR CULTURALLY DIVERSE EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNINTY. I AM PLEASE THAT THE DOE HAS RESPONDED TO OUR REQUEST SO QUICKLY.”

COMMUNITY BOARD SEVEN SITE SELECTION COMMITTEE CHAIR JOAN BOTTI STATED “IT IS GRATIFYING THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RECOGNIZES THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES AND COMMUNITY AND IS WILLING TO WORK WITH US TO FIND PROPER LOCATIONS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE RECOGNIZE THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO NEED MORE SITES AND SEATS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR WORK.”

THE COMMUNITY BOARD HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS AND SEATS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

LAST YEAR MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG AND THEN-GOVERNOR GEORGE PATAKI CAME TO SUNSET PARK TO ANNOUNCE FUNDING FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL TO BE BUILT IN THE COMMUNITY. CURRENTLY IT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

FOR FUTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE BOARD OFFICE AT 718-854-0003 or e-mail [email protected]