Standing in front of the steps of P.S. 83 on
Rhinelander Avenue in the Bronx, Senator Klein and United Federation of
Teachers President Michael Mulgrew announced a $700,000 grant, secured by the
State Senate in the 2013-14 budget, for the New York City Community Leaning
Schools Initiative. This grant will be used to fund 16 community learning
schools during the 2013-14 school year, including P.S. 83, P.S. 14 and the
International School for Liberal Arts in the Bronx. The grant was advocated and
secured by Senator Klein and his colleagues in the 2013-14 State Budget.
Senator Jeff Klein said, “As elected officials, we have a duty to
ensure our children receive a first-rate education. Community Learning Schools
take this one step further, by providing schools with
the resources they need to help students and their families meet the
tough challenges outside the classroom. These schools will be able to provide
college counseling, tutoring, cultural programming or even health services,
allowing the school community to decide which services best fit their needs.
“Community learning
schools are a great step forward for education in New York, since students and
their families will no longer get held back by the types of real-life issues
that too often stand in the way of success in the classroom.”
“The way to make an impact on students’ lives is to put the
services that can make a difference – things like health and dental care,
social services, support for families – where children and their families can
take advantage of them, in city schools. This is the way to really help
children, and I want to thank Senate Majority Coalition Leader Jeff Klein for
making this happen,” said United Federation of Teachers President
Michael Mulgrew.
The NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative is a non-profit
organization that works to identify public schools where educators, staff and
the parents collaborate to transform schools into community “hubs” by bringing
in outside volunteers, businesses, organizations and health services. Schools
currently working with the Initiative have established school-based health and
dental clinics, youth development programs, tutoring, food banks and other
services. By integrating these services with an academic environment, students
will receive the care and have the resources needed to succeed.
Selected schools were chosen to participate after submitting
proposals to the NYC Community Learning Schools Initiative. Along with P.S. 83,
P.S. 14 and the International School for Liberal Arts, other schools to receive
funding through the grant secured include P.S. 335 in Brooklyn, P.S. 1 in
Manhattan and Queens High School for Information, Research and Technology.
In 2012, the United Federation of Teachers, with support from
the New York City Council, the Partnership for New York City and Trinity
Wall Street launched the NYCCLSI. The NYCCLSI facilitates partnerships between
schools, non-profits, business and government to connect vital services to
public school buildings, improve student achievement and meet the health,
safety and social service needs of students and communities.
P.S. 83 Principal Brandon Muccino said, "P.S. 83 has a long history of community involvement
so it’s only fitting that a community school grant be implemented here. This
neighborhood thrives on the after-school programs that this school provides to
both students and parents, so to see that Senator Klein acknowledges this makes
it special for everybody involved. It is our hope that this grant will
bring sustainable programs that will thrive for years to come."
Left - Senator Klein mentions that he was a product of Bronx public schools as he is joined by UFT President Mulgrew, P.S. 83 Principal Brandon Muccino, P.S. 14
Principal Ira Schulman and students from P.S. 83.
Right - UFT President Michael Mulgrew thanks Senator Klein for his part in the getting of more funds to the schools that were selected to share in this state grant.
While Senator Klein and UFT President Mulgrew hold the check for $700,000.00 the children of PS 83 give it the thumbs up.
