BROOKLYN COMMUNITY BOARD 6
YOUTH/HUMAN SERVICES/EDUCATION COMMITTEE
MAY 2, 2012
PRESENT:
P. BELLENBAUM J. BERNARD R. CERVONE
M. KOLMAN M. SCOTT D. SCOTTO
S. SHIFFMAN B. SOLOTAIRE S. TURET
ABSENT:
E. CHAN E. FELDER A. FORNECKER
E.GOTTLIEB L. HILL M. RUIZ
T. VAZQUEZ D.C. VITO
GUESTS:
M. FLAVIN – REP. FOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE FOR CHILDREN
T. TARATKO – REP. FROM DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
*** MINUTES ***
The meeting was called to order at 6:45pm.
Presentation and discussion with representatives for the Citizens’ Committee for Children on their Campaign for Children, an advocacy effort to oppose the proposed cuts to child care and after-school services in the City’s budget.
Moira Flavin of the Campaign for Children made the presentation. The CCC is a multi-issue child advocacy organization engaged in a joint campaign between the NYC Youth Alliance and the Emergency Coalition to Save Child Care joined forces to fight against cuts to childcare and after school care.
Mayor Bloomberg proposed cuts for 2012: • 47,000 children lose child care and after care – cuts for past 5 years. • 90,000 children will have lost child care and afterschool in past 5 years.
The CCC is asking for Community Board support for resolution. They have had strong support from Community Boards so far. Moira briefly reviewed the handouts: • Impact brief • Tool kit • Brooklyn impact brief • Resolution
In Brooklyn, DYCD and ACS have used a priority versus non-priority zip code determination. CCC believes this is a false choice and the information is skewed – not a clear depiction of need. The city is slated to lose 25,000 afterschool slots and elimination of 7 Beacon programs and NYCHA cornerstone programs.
Pushing to restore cuts and baseline the funding.
Proposed cuts this year: 16,000 childcare slots and 32,000 after school slots.
The question was asked if these resolutions really have an effect? Moira explained that last year similar cuts were proposed and the majority was restored due to advocacy.
Calling on all Community Boards citywide to endorse the resolution.
The committee was unable to vote because there was not a quorum present but will request a resolution before the full Board at the upcoming general meeting. The Mayor’s budget comes out tomorrow and CCC will let the committee know if any of the numbers change.
Presentation and discussion with a representative for the Department of Education’s Office of Space Planning on the department’s planning process for determining how school spaces are allocated, outfitted and utilized and how that effects our district.
Thomas Taratko of the Department of Education Office of Space Planning made the presentation. His office authorizes changes in space usage. Responsible for determining co- location in schools. The Office of Space Planning originally created to support principals who were forced to navigate space changes in schools. • Identifies underutilized spaces for new schools to be located. • No politics behind it – facilities against space facts. • Planning to engagement for new placements i.e., charter schools. • Work closely with School Construction Authority. • What should go into the building – assist architects in SCA. They have models for middle schools, high schools, etc.
Facilities team contact list was reviewed. - Can help with utilization issues, room conversion, how to maximize City Council discretionary resolution grants. - Space analysis during phase cuts and closures. - Dispute resolution at co-located schools.
Reviewing the Blue Book – capital planning document that describes the capacity and utilization for all Department of Education buildings. - Historic utilization – if SCA is building a school, they would have x amount of offices, x amount of classrooms – all based on square footage per student. - Target capacity – all teachers fill out a facility survey to say how all the space is utilized. Look at full size, half size and quarter size spaces. - When it comes to space decisions, the Office of Space Planning has never lost a case in court. - DOE instructional footprint – tool used by all stakeholders in the analysis and assessment of space usage in NYC DOE buildings. The instructional footprint tells you how you have to use and share space.
The Office of Space Planning has no input on what organization goes into the building only what the space has the capacity for. They survey 150-200 buildings a year – frequently say “no” you can’t turn that into a shared space.
- The Education Construction Fund gives schools extra square footage for air rights. - To meet the needs of communities with more and more kids and not enough space – DOE will build new schools but it will take 5 years to complete. - Middle schools are also overtaxed. - Temporary classrooms are also opened if schools outgrow themselves.
- There are 80,000 underutilized seats in NYC schools. • 300 vacant seats and up – co-locate • 150-300 = District 75 programs • K-655 – 400 seats in air district
Q. Why can’t schools build up? A. These schools were not designed to hold that much extra weight.
Any dollar spent on a co-location is matched for all organizations located in the same space.
Expanding community school model for the future – medical/mental health/dental facility/24- hour computer lab – all accessible to parents and community members.
Office of Portfolio Development – Lilly Hasken and Carrie Mauer for District 15 – make determinations on co-location.
PS 58 – the Chancellor will be there on June 14th at 6pm.
May 21st – Task Force for PS133 at 6pm.
State Senator Velmanette Montgomeery introduced a bill that would reverse Mayoral control of schools. Will reach out to their office.
A motion was made by Paige Bellenbaum and seconded by Suzanne Turet to approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on March 28, 2012.
MOTION APPROVED: UNANIMOSLY
Benjamin Solotaire approved to endorse the resolution and Paige Bellenbaum seconded the resolution to endorse the Campaign for Children resolution.
There being no further business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned.