Corona may get a new middle school in 2013

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    Image source: NYDN – IS61 Principal Joseph Lisa in Corona

    The NY Daily News reports that Corona may get a new middle school by Fall 2013. A new school would help alleviate the intense overcrowding happening at IS 61, which is currently about 400 students over capacity. There’s so little room right now, some classes are taking place in closets and offices. And if the overcrowding itself wasn’t enough, if the issue isn’t fixed by next year, the school risks losing its gifted and talented, band and dance programs, which are “a godsend,” according to some parents. Daily arts and technology electives are an important aspect of the school. Attendance by the students is excellent.

    The Department of Education has hopes of opening this new middle school by next fall (to be called Q311), and this school would have about 800 seats available. This does not mean an actual, physical structure would be up by 2013, but that the new school would “incubate” in another school on the border of Corona and Elmhurst, until the school building would be ready in 2015.

    It really does take a while to build a school – we watched for many, many months as the Frank Sinatra School for the Arts (a public high school) was erected in Long Island City. The amount of time it takes to get an actual building up is likely one reason why the incubation was suggested. But it was worth it because the building and its facilites are top notch.

    In order for the incubation to be put in place, the Panel for Educational Policy would need to approve it.

    Another way to help alleviate the overcrowding of this school is to rezone the area, which would reduce the number of students at IS 61. Another approval would need to happen to make this a reality, this time by the Community Education Council.

    New school Q311 to alleviate overcrowding at Corona middle school [NYDN]
    I.S. 61 Leonardo Da Vinci [Inside Schools]
    Getting their priorities straight [uft.org]

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