More space needed for New York's oldest public school - PS 34 Brooklyn!

Please CLICK HERE to sign the petition for more space!

Originally built as a school in 1867, the beautiful Romanesque Revival building is in fact the oldest continually operating school building in New York and a New York City landmark. Since its founding, PS 34 has served over 60,000 students, with an average annual student body of 475.

PS 34, known as the small school with a big heart, a statement that couldn't ring more true. Charming, quaint, homey, sweet, these all accurately describe our school environment and culture. But although these descriptions sound welcoming and inviting, they cannot mask the larger inescapable issue at hand, a critical lack of space. We provide the same level of enrichment programming as other District 14 Schools in close proximity with one-tenth of the enrichment space! Yes, one-tenth! The only flexible space in the building is our school cafeteria, located in our basement.

This is not a new issue, in fact, it has been part of ongoing conversations with the DOE and SCA for years now. PS 34 was first on the list for the Mayor’s initiative to build new gyms for elementary schools, but the plans for 34 were scratched because the school didn’t have enough space! The frustrating irony!

Every time an idea, new site location, or plan proposal is denied, it is perceived by the school community as shortsighted, an incredible missed opportunity. But most upsetting and disappointing is that these years of refusal to support our need for additional space is at the expense of our most valuable assets, those whom the DOE and SCA are supposed to have a vested interest in, our children.

Quite frankly, the future of our school as it stands in its existing building is unsustainable, a fact that has been made even more apparent during this current pandemic. PS 34 and it’s critical shortage of space was specifically called out on the numerous pandemic-focused DOE calls that took place over the summer. And yet, the SCA again denied our multiple proposals and requests for additional space.

But there is hope. Just as the pandemic has exposed our systems weaknesses, vulnerabilities, inequities, and overall failures on so many levels, it has also shed light on new possibilities and solutions and has opened the doors to more available real estate site locations. Those sites, which once seemed far-fetched and unattainable, are now proving to be within reach and real possibilities for our spatial shortage. Now is the time to act. We can no longer sit back and repeat our failed approach of submitting proposals, applications, and requests through the usual city channels and protocol.

Which is why we, the administration and families of PS 34 are optimistically seeking your guidance, partnership, and support to help us secure funding and city-wide commitment for a transformative capital investment and to lock in a new multi-purpose building.

The pandemic has proven to be an unavoidable yet necessary wake-up call to address the gaping glaring problems that exist everywhere we look and now is the time for change and action. Successfully obtaining new space for our school is no exception. When we can fully and safely emerge from this disaster we are all hopeful for a better world, and that includes giving our beloved school community and most importantly, our cherished children, a well deserved educational facility that properly fosters a brighter future and bigger dreams. It's time.

Sincerely,

The Families of PS 34 & Community