ASSEMBLYMAN LUIS SEPULVEDA, SENATOR RUBEN DIAZ ANNOUNCE $4 MILLION IN SCHOOL FUNDING

   Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda and Senator Ruben Diaz today announced $4 million in funding for schools in their overlapping districts, and said they wished more schools had applied.

The money will go for a wide variety of classroom equipment, security cameras and much needed physical upgrades.

Sepulveda said that while his 87th Assembly District, covering mostly Parkchester, Castle Hill and West Farms, has a large number of schools, only 15 school principals met with him to discuss their school's needs and apply for the funding, through the State and Municipal Facilities Program.

"It is a shame that many other schools passed on this opportunity," said Sepulveda. "I hope that as we go into the next legislative session in Albany that more school principals will join in seeking funds on behalf of their students."

Sepulveda said a lion's share of the funding will go to buy laptop computers and Smart Boards for classrooms at the schools.

 

"We need to help our students learn to live in the new digital world," said Sepulveda. "That is so important not just for jobs, but for their future lives in general."

The Assemblyman added that "I can't imagine a classroom where a teacher still has to work with a blackboard and chalk, rather than a computer-connected Smart Board. That is shameful."

He noted that Mayor de Blasio recently announced the $81 million Computer Science for All educational initiative requiring all city public schools to office computer science to all students by 2025.

"Children in the Bronx and other poor neighborhoods across the city are in danger of being left behind in this rapidly changing digital society," said Senator Diaz.

 "I want to see the day come when the schools in my district receive the same funding and resources as children in more affluent districts across the city," said Diaz. "It is urgent that they are prepared to be competitive in the rapidly changing work place.We need to catch up now."

Both electeds thanked a number of school principals who attended the press conference for "their dedication and hard work on behalf of their students."

 

Assemblyman Sepulveda represents the 87th Assembly District covering Parkchester, Castle Hill, West Farms, Van Nest and Stratton Park.

Senator Diaz represents the 32nd Senate District covering Castle Hill, Parkchester, Morrisania, Hunts Point, Melrose, Longwood and Soundview.

SCHOOLS RECEIVING STATE FUNDING:

PS 119X, Principal Michelle Montana; PS 182, Principal Anne O'Grady; Bronx Community High School (08X377), Principal Flora Greenaway; Emolior Academy, Principal Michael Abbey; P.S. 138 The Samuel Randall School, Principal Jeanna  A. Dickerson.

The Parkchester School - PS 106, Principal Eugenia Montalvo; P.S. 36X, Principal Elvira Maresca;The Lorraine Hansberry Academy - Public School 214, Principal David Cintron; The Bronx Compass High School,Principal Brett Roer; The Antonia Pantoja Preparatory Academy.

 Principal Nalini Singh.

  J. H. S. 125 Henry Hudson, Principal Michael Collins; Blueprint Middle School, Principal Tyneka Harrington; Public School 47, Principal Thomas Guarnieri; Archer Elementary School PS 531, Principal Zakariah Haviland, and PS 6X- The West Farms School, Principal Tiawana Perez.