What Do You Think Of The Incoming PS/IS 437 On Caton Avenue?

While many of us have long known that the city is building a new school (PS/IS 437) at 701 Caton Avenue, as Brownstoner reported today in a piece that also discusses the renderings posted at the work site, we thought, particularly in the wake of last week’s meeting, now would be a good time to discuss the construction and if/how it’s impacting your life.

Currently being developed by the city School Construction Authority, the five-story school is slated to open for the 2015-16 school year and will include a variety of facilities, including, of course, classrooms, a gym, cafeteria, library, administrative offices, and more. It will definitely house a new middle school and may include a new elementary school – though it could also be home to PS 130 students if Community Education Council 15 and the city Department of Education decide on what is known as a “split site” option. Under such a plan, younger students would remain at the current 130 building and the older students would attend class in the new facility. Numerous parents voiced their support for the split-site option at last week’s meeting, calling it preferable over creating a new zoned elementary school because it would keep 130’s diversity intact.

City education officials (as well as lawmakers, parents, and community advocates) have said the new space is desperately needed in order to address what are often severely overcrowded conditions in area schools – and a number of people at last week’s meeting noted that at least 220 housing units are expected to be completed in the near future.

So, what have you noticed about the construction so far? Have there been any issues you’ve noticed with the construction? Or not? What do you think of the incoming school? Do you support a split-site option or would you rather see a new zoned elementary school? Feel free to comment below!