LIU STATEMENT ON SCHOOLS F.A.C.T. ACT

New York City Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement in response to questions concerning the enactment of the Schools Facility, Accountability, Capacity and Transparency Act today.

“The DOE can do better to reduce overcrowded schools and classrooms starting with better understanding of how space is currently used. The Schools F.A.C.T. Act will push the DOE further in this direction and we thank the Mayor and the Council for enacting this measure.”

Comptroller Liu’s office in September released an audit of the DOE’s “Blue Book” estimates of available space in schools.  The Blue Book is used by the DOE and the School Construction Authority to assist in making decisions regarding the placement of new schools and programs in pre-existing buildings and plans for major capital projects and upgrades that may increase capacity. The audit found errors in both the measurements of rooms’ sizes and their use, whether for instructional or non-instructional purposes.  Details of the audit’s findings are available at:
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2011/09-14-11_ME11-064A.shtm