Budget Cuts Threatening To Cramp P.S. 321's Style
The administration and PTA for P.S. 321 on 7th Avenue and 1st Street—widely considered one of the best and most progressive public elementary schools in Brooklyn, if not the entire city—are up in arms about the $125,000 in budget cuts the school is facing, and they’re calling on parents to march at the Department of…
The administration and PTA for P.S. 321 on 7th Avenue and 1st Street—widely considered one of the best and most progressive public elementary schools in Brooklyn, if not the entire city—are up in arms about the $125,000 in budget cuts the school is facing, and they’re calling on parents to march at the Department of Education offices tomorrow. (Principals all over the city have been slamming the slashed DOE budget.) P.S. 321’s principal sent a note home to parents saying the cuts mean the school won’t be able to buy new classroom furniture and certain school supplies (including new math books), and that there will be less money available for the professional development of teachers. On Monday, the PTA co-presidents sent home another letter (see copy on jump) about how the loss of funding will hurt the school; this communication asks parents to show up for the 4:00 p.m. rally in Lower Manhattan tomorrow to protest the cuts. (The rally is distinct from the meeting about the budget cuts that Councilman de Blasio is holding at Borough Hall tonight.) So how does all this circle back to real estate? This is no doubt overly simplistic, but is it possible for the budget cuts to make some would-be Slope buyers (who often move to the neighborhood because of schools like P.S. 321) reconsider, or think about shelling out for private school instead? Or do the strong voices of parents at P.S. 321 affirm the lure of the school and neighborhood? GMAP
Inside Schools has very informative statements from principals as to how these cuts will directly their students.
I know that the cuts at MS 51 will have a direct impact on the students. I think about 95,000 was cut from their budget. I don’t have details on how this will impact my younger child’s elementary school but assume it will hurt those children most in need of support services.
Maybe some parents of young children will opt to go the private school but acceptance isn’t guaranteed by any means. These are citywide cuts so they will impact all neighborhoods. What are the options? Suburbs?
So, how much was spent on those school report cards again?
How about they enforce the zoning regulations for 321, so the school would not be so overcrowded. Then the budget cuts wouldn’t be as bothersome.
As many have already suggested here, this particular school can probably generate a lot of money through a fundraiser. But most of the schools in the city won’t be able to.
I hope other schools that will be hurt even more will also be organized enough to stage a protest.
Mr B, please be a responsible journalist. The budget cuts are systemic, not just for 321. My kids school was cut as well and so are many friends school across the 5 boroughs.
To turn this into a real estate story about 1 school and its well to do parent body and real estate geography is opportunistic and irresponsible.
Be careful, 9:57. Those hard-working, multi-tasking, very well-educated moms just might come in and take YOUR job.
wow, 9:57. Are you a parent or mother? You have no clue.
I agree with 9:54. This pales in comparison to the struggles that many other NYC public schools have been facing for decades
Here’s a novel idea: have all of the stay-at-home mothers get off their asses, get jobs, and then donate $ to PS 321 to close the budget gap.
$125K, that is it? These people are nuts. Why dont they hold a fund-raiser or donation drive to make up the difference.? Surely there are enough well heeled families in the community that could make this up.
As far as not moving to the Slope because of this – I doubt that very much. Arent other schools city-wide facing budget cuts?
I fail to see how such a small amount of money will make any appreciable impact here.
Important to note that the administration of this school did not call on parents to protest — the heads of the PTA did.