The Héctor Figueroa School opened at the start of the 2019-20 school year
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza today announced the re-naming of PS 398, a Jackson Heights, Queens elementary school to be The Héctor Figueroa School. The re-naming honors the late union leader and 32BJ SEIU President who passed away earlier this year.
“Héctor Figueroa was the embodiment of the fight for fairness and justice. His legacy lives on across the entire City – from workers who now have benefits they deserve to those who continue to draw inspiration from his mission,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Now, children from this school will see his name daily and learn how to take action for what is right.”
“This school community could not have made a more perfect choice to name their school after a Jackson Heights leader who was so dedicated to equity in our schools and our workplaces. As our students learn about the world they’ll also learn that everyone’s voice deserves to be heard, just like Héctor believed deeply. I couldn’t be prouder to celebrate that and honor his legacy,” said Chancellor Richard A. Carranza.
“I am proud, and a little sad, to celebrate PS 398 taking on the name of my dear brother Héctor Figueroa,” said Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ. “Héctor loved Queens as a place where families from all over the world learned to call each other neighbors, friends, and family. That’s why we are so glad his name and legacy will have a chance to live on in the county he called home, where he was so happy to raise his family and work to make things better for all families.”
Héctor Figueroa was an international labor movement leader and president of the Local 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), which represents more than 175,000 security guards, school cleaners and handypersons, doorpersons and airport workers. Figueroa was a leader in the Fight for 15, a grass-roots effort led by fast-food workers which started in New York City and grew into a nationwide campaign for a higher minimum wage. Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Figueroa came from a family of educators; his father was a school principal and his mother was a teacher and principal.
Open for the first time in the 2019-20 school year, The Héctor Figueroa School currently serves 117 Pre-K and Kindergarten students. The Jackson Heights neighborhood of Queens has been home to the Figueroa family for years, and will grow to serve 476 students in grades Pre-K through fifth grade. Principal Erica Ureña-Thus engaged school community in this process, which highlighted significant figures from the Jackson Heights community. Students, teachers, and families votes and decided to officially rename the school in his honor.
The state-of-the-art building is fully ADA-accessible, fully air-conditioned, and includes:
· Art, music and science resource rooms
· Reading and speech rooms
· An early childhood playground and rooftop playground for upper grades
· A gymnatorium
· A community meeting room
The 476 seats at PS 398 The Héctor Figueroa School will help alleviate overcrowding in District 30 as part of the more than 2,100 new seats created in Queens for the 2019-2020 school year.
Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, "Hector Figueroa dedicated his life to improving the lives of millions of New Yorkers and Americans. Hector fought tirelessly, not only for his union brothers and sisters, but also for causes like immigrant rights, social and economic justice, environmental protection, and workplace safety. This deserving honor will help ensure future generations of children will know his name and learn from his legacy of service."
“Héctor Figueroa was a champion for social justice and the rights of all people,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “As the son of two educators, he would have been proud to know that this state-of-the-art school carrying his name will give kids in Queens a quality education and the building blocks they need for a bright future. I hope that these students will be inspired by his legacy of fighting for justice and human rights.”
“Héctor Figueroa was a giant in the labor community and a powerful voice for hard-working women and men in New York. His death was a big loss for this City but renaming PS398 in his Queens neighborhood in his honor is a fitting tribute. I look forward to seeing future students thriving at a school named after this important social justice leader and my good friend,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.
