Richards grants district schools more than $21M
BY BILL PARRY
Students and faculty at the
George Washington Carver
High School located at the
Springfield Gardens Educational
Campus had a special
guest Tuesday when Councilman
Donovan Richards announced
his funding for southeast
Queens and Rockaway
schools.
Richards spoke of the 29
schools in his district that received
discretionary funding
and capital grants his office
allocated to improve technology
available to students in
the classroom and provide
upgrades that will enhance resources.
Since Fiscal Year 2019,
more than $7.2 million was allocated
to schools in Laurelton,
Rosedale and Springfield Gardens.
In Rockaway more than
$14 million was allocated.
Included in the total allocation,
$10 million was secured
for schools in his district
through the Downtown Far
Rockaway rezoning negotiations
in 2017.
“Since I became a Council
member, the easiest and most
gratifying decision I make every
City Councilman Donovan Richards chats with students at George Washington Carver High School in
Springfield Gardens before speaking of the capital funding grants he’s allocated for schools in his district.
Courtesy of Richards’ offi ce
year is to provide funding
to local schools for technology
and capital upgrades that
will help ensure that students
across Council District 31 have
every advantage to compete
with the best and brightest
across the city,” Richards said.
Major beneficiaries include
P.S. 195 in Rosedale which received
$1.3 million for playground
renovations, sound
system upgrades and improved
gym lighting. M.S. 355/356 in
Springfield Gardens received
$1.2 million for a music studio
and auditorium upgrades, and
P.S. 132 in Rosedale received $1
million for kitchen upgrades.
The schools in the Rockaways
that received the most
funding includes Village Academy
in Far Rockaway with $2.9
million for greenhouse and
tech updates, the Far Rockaway
Educational Campus which received
$2.6 million for a wood
and robotics shop as well as
a complete library upgrade,
Beach Channel High School
with $2.5 million for a weight
room, cafeteria and air conditioning,
and P.S. 183 in Rockaway
Beach got $1.65 million
for tech and park upgrades.
“The schools in southeast
Queens and the Rockaways
have suffered from inequitable
resources for decades, so one
of the most valuable ways I
can spend my discretionary
funding is to provide these students
with the resources that
every child in New York City
deserves,” Richards said. “The
number one way to ensure our
students are on a path to success
is to provide them with
the necessary and diverse
tools that will give them every
opportunity to succeed.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by
e-mail at bparry@schnepsmedia.
com or by phone at (718)
260–4538.
Do you know a Student of Distinction?
TimesLedger Newspapers and Community Newspaper Group
invite your school to participate in our feature highlighting
young people who are excellent students as well as
role models for their younger peers.
Nomination requirements are:
A) That the student excel in academics in addition to
participation in extra-curricular school activities.
B) A nominating letter from your school’s guidance
counselor and instructors describing the student’s abilities
and why they would be worthy of this recognition.
C) Please make sure that the student’s bio and a recent
photo are included with the nomination.
D) Categories are:
1) Middle School 2) High School 3) College
Please send nominations and information to:
srossi@cnglocal.com, or mail to:
S. Rossi – 41-02 Bell Blvd., 2nd Floor, Bayside, NY 11361
If you have any questions, you may contact me at:
718-260-4522
Call Now & End Your Tax Nightmare!
Co-Author of the
best selling book
“Breaking the Tax Code”
Salvatore P. Candela, EA, ATA, ABA
Enrolled Agent - Tax Advisor
34 TIMESLEDGER, OCT. 25-31, 2019 QNS.COM
link
link
link
link
/QNS.COM
link