College Point school hosts a ‘sticky’ celebration
Teachers get duct taped to the wall after school wins $400K in funds for new gym
BY JENNA BAGCAL
A College Point school
community came together to
celebrate their participatory
budgeting win in a way that
is sure to “stick” for years
to come.
On May 14, dozens of
students, parents, teachers
and faculty at P.S. 129
Patricia Larkin, as well as
Councilman Paul Vallone,
celebrated their first place
status, which earned them
a $400,000 full gymnasium
renovation.
During voting, physical
education teachers David
Sommer, Craig Krupski,
Neequaye Williams and Ron
Sandow promised students
that if their project got the
most votes, they would get
the opportunity to duct
tape their teachers to the
gym walls.
The College Point
public school earned 2,009
votes, followed by 1,807
votes for Bayside High
School’s green biome
and 1,574 votes for NYPD
security cameras.
“Every year, I look
forward to seeing the
new and creative ways
our community members
motivate their neighbors
during the participatory
budgeting process,” said
Vallone. “Congratulations
again to Principal Marilyn
Alesi, Assistant Principals
Angela Fiorenza and
Denise Smith, and the
entire P.S. 129 community.
I can’t wait to visit the
school again to see the
final result!”
In March and April,
Council District 19
residents voted for up to
five projects from a list
of 20. Vallone supplied
funding the top three
projects at the end of
the voting period on
April 7. Councilmembers
who participate in
participatory budgeting
allocate at least $1 million
from their budget for the
winning projects.
“P.S. 129 had an exciting
addition to our May Parent
Event,” said Principal
Alesi. “Thanks to
Councilman Vallone, our
school will be receiving
funding for a gymnasium
Councilman Vallone, teachers and students at P.S. 129 Photos courtesy of Vallone’s offi ce
renovation. The staff
at our school worked
very hard to engage our
community in voting.
Our PE teachers went to
the extent of volunteering
to be duct taped to the
wall of the gymnasium if
the children encouraged
their families to vote. The
atmosphere at the event
was electric as students
hurried around the gym
and kept returning for
more tape. Councilman
Vallone and some of his
staff joined us to add to
the fun.”
This spring, residents
cast over 8,500 votes, which
beat out northeast Queens’
previous record. Council
District 19 also garnered
the most votes in the entire
city. Historically, district
residents in Auburndale,
Bayside, Bay Terrace,
Beechhurst, College Point,
Douglaston, Little Neck,
Malba, North Flushing and
Whitestone cast over 5,000
votes each year.
“We would like to
thank our administration,
staff and all community
members for supporting our
school in the participatory
budgeting vote,” said the
PS 129 gym teachers in a
joint statement. “It was an
amazing night for a good
cause. Our students are
going to love the gymnasium
renovation! School pride
night was a great success
for all involved, and
we would like to thank
Councilman Vallone for
his continued support of
our school.”
Reach reporter Jenna
Bagcal by email at jbagcal@
qns.com or by phone at (718)
224-5863 ext. 214.
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