Plans are rolling full steam ahead to build a new school in Bay Ridge.
“They have to do feasibility studies and environmental studies. They’re moving along. It seems to be so far, so good. There seem to be no issues,” explained Laurie Windsor, president of School District 20’s Community Education Council (CEC), which is a volunteer parents group advocating for schools in Bay Ridge, Fort Hamilton and Borough Park.
The School Construction Authority (SCA) is looking to build a new school on Fourth Avenue between 88th and 89th streets.
The school would be constructed on three properties – a car wash, the adjacent car stereo store and an empty lot in back of the vacant businesses.
The city Department of Education (DOE) confirmed that it’s interested in the properties but wouldn’t provide any other details “because we do not discuss sites where we are in active negotiations,” according to a spokesperson.
But members of District 20’s CEC have met with the SCA and offered insight into the proposed school.
The school building would be four stories tall and serve 437 students in grades pre-k to five when it opens in September 2011, Windsor said.
The school would be a great addition to the local community, specifically for the numerous young families moving in, Windsor said.
“There’s discussion about the Fort Hamilton Army base. They have new families coming in,” she explained. “This school would be the closest to the Army base.”
A new school would also help combat overcrowding in District 20, which has long been one of the most cramped districts in the city. That would entail altering the zoning lines for nearby schools so some students would be sent to the new school building.
“P.S./I.S. 104 on 92nd Street and Fifth Avenue has an annex at the district office for the kindergarten classes,” Windsor said. “This would help them.”
The CEC would lead the school rezoning but that wouldn’t happen until “way later on,” Windsor said.
In the meantime, representatives for SCA or DOE are expected to attend a public hearing about the Fourth Avenue site on September 15. The hearing would be hosted by Community Board 10 at 7:15 p.m. at the Shore Hill Community Room, 9000 Shore Road. Those wishing to attend should enter the building on 91st Street. Contact the community board for updated meeting details at 718-745-6827.
