Mount Kisco Architects Study Yonkers Schools Overcrowding

Russell A. Davidson of Mount Kisco-based architecture firm, KG+D Architects recently spoke at a press conference alongside Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, the Yonkers Board of Education and the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin M. Quezada, about the findings of his firm's recent building capacity study of Yonkers Public Schools.

At the press conference, Davidson relayed the firm’s findings, which found that Yonkers’ 39 public schools are overcapacity by 4,428 seats for the 27,000 students who attend the school district starting in pre-kindergarten and continuing through 12th grade.

Davidson explained that due to the lack of adequate space in many schools, class sizes, specifically in elementary schools and special education services are below New York State Office of Facilities Planning standards.

“The numbers released are alarming -- it is evident that we are placing our young children, especially those with special needs, in substandard learning environments that are likely to worsen each year,” said Spano in a written statement. “KG+D’s study should serve as a wake-up call to our state leaders that now is the time to act to rebuild Yonkers schools.”

Conducted during the 2015-16 academic year, KG+D’s report points to the widening gap between Yonkers Public School’s capacity and enrollment, which was previously 4,100 seats overcapacity (2010).

The Building Capacity report concludes the shortage of space in Yonkers Schools continues to increase despite recently acquiring modest rental properties due to increasing enrollment and the increasing requirement for spaces for students with special needs. These numbers do not take into account the projected increase in enrollment each year in Yonkers Public Schools. The District will update its enrollment projections in the coming months which will likely show an even greater shortage of space each year. In order to continue to function, building principals find ways to accommodate the students through a combination of:

• Larger class sizes (Pre-K/Kindergarten = 28 students; First Grade and above = 30 students)
• Use of spaces that were used for special subjects such as music, art, computer unavoidably have been converted for use as grade level classrooms,
• Use of common areas for classroom or special subject instruction including libraries, stages and portions of the cafeteria,
• Use of storage rooms and closets for small group instruction space such as speech, ESL, OT, PT, psychologist’s offices, social worker’s offices and special education resource rooms,
• Use of undersized spaces for accommodating special education classes (State standards require 770 square foot classrooms)

“Accountability to provide a 21st century education for our children, especially urban children, cannot rest exclusively on the pedagogical expertise of educators,” noted Quezada. “Today, it requires a physical environment that is able to support technological and global learning. So many Yonkers schools are over 100 years old; they are crumbling around our students and staff. Patchwork repairs are no longer acceptable. Now, is Yonkers’ time to partner with the State and hold everyone accountable to provide an environment wherein our students are afforded the same opportunities as every New York child. Together, we can provide appropriate facilities where students can learn, grow and prepare for productive careers.”

The report comes as Spano and the Yonkers Board of Education continue to urge the New York State Legislature to pass a four-phase, 13-year reconstruction plan to rebuild Yonkers’ 39 public schools. Spano launched the Rebuild Yonkers Schools advocacy campaign earlier this year, asking New York State to support special legislation that would fund the plan.

“This study is the most comprehensive method we know of to arrive at an appropriate capacity for the school buildings in Yonkers,” said Davidson, FAIA, KG+D president. “We are completely confident that these figures represent the number of students that each building should accommodate to best serve the educational needs of the students.”

KG+D also is expected to release a building conditions survey in June that will provide updated capital costs required to bring the school buildings into overall good condition. It has been determined the District’s buildings are currently aging faster than they are being updated due to the lack of funding to keep the schools in good, operating condition.

For KG+D’s complete building capacity report, visit www.yonkersny.gov/rebuild. For more information on Rebuild Yonkers Schools, visit www.rebuildyonkersschools.com.