Bronx, N.Y – In a letter to NYC Department of Education (DOE) Chancellor Carmen Fariña, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz(D-Bronx) urged her to consider the use of the building located at 3120 Corlear Avenue to house students and alleviate the overcrowding issues plaguing schools in District 10.

In recent years, District 10 has dealt with chronic overcrowding issues at several schools, including P.S. 24 and P.S. 7 to name a few. The overcrowding problems at P.S. 24 were needlessly exacerbated last year by the DOE’s bungling of the lease-renewal for the Whitehall Annex. The subsequent loss of the Annex lost P.S. 24 over one hundred and fifty desperately needed seats at a time when poor decisions made at the school were already adding to the overcrowding problems.

In an effort to help the DOE redeem themselves in District 10, Assemblyman Dinowitz urges the DOE to consider using 3120 Corlear Avenue to house students from at least one of the overcrowded schools, if not several. The Tech International Charter School currently occupies the space, but failure to meet performance standards have forced the school to close. The building though, already suitable for educating students, should be available for use by September 2017 if the DOE acts now and seizes upon this opportunity to create additional space for students.

“It is indisputably in the interest of the NYC DOE to capitalize on this opportunity for the well-being and quality of education of the students in this district,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “I firmly believe that the building could go a great way toward improving the education of those same students by providing them adequate space in which to learn. We have a large number of potential seats which could be ready in September. We would not have to wait several years for the DOE to construct a new facility. It is urgent that the DOE act immediately”