'Hollywood On The Hudson' Lionsgate Partner In New Magnet School

YONKERS, NY — Lionsgate's new studio isn't just bringing a little Tinseltown glitz to the Hudson Valley and boosting the local economy — the studio complex will soon allow a one-of-a-kind opportunity for public school students.

The Yonkers Board of Education has approved the signing of a 20-year lease to rent the Frank T. Biondi and the Ames School Buildings at the former Rising Ground campus on Hawthorne Street, Mayor Mike Spano and the district announced today. In partnership with Great Point Studios, owner and operator of the new Lionsgate Studio Yonkers, the 100,000-square-foot property will be the future home to Yonkers Public Schools’ new media and production magnet school.

"Yonkers is thrilled to partner with Great Point Studios in our effort to invest in and provide more specialized educational opportunities for students and offer them the pathway to a career," Spano said in a statement. "This school, along with the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Community School in construction now, means Yonkers soon will be home to two more vibrant and diverse learning institutions that will see our young people flourish and prepare them for the next phases of their educational journey."

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The school, which currently houses the social services organization Rising Ground, will soon enroll approximately 500 students from Grades 6 to 12 to focus primarily on media and the performing arts. The S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, will help to develop the curriculum, which will ultimately offer a channel for students to apply and get accepted to Syracuse University.

The as yet unnamed media school is expected to open in 2024 and Great Point Studios will manage the renovations on behalf of the City of Yonkers.

"I have long shared a vision with the City of Yonkers for the future of our entertainment industry," Great Point Studios founder Robert Halmi said. "With the guidance of the Newhouse School, this new school will provide vital training for future media creators and performers and will allow our next generation to continue to grow on the strong foundation that we have created."

The Yonkers Board of Education approved the $2.4 million annual rent agreement at its meeting on Wednesday, August 17. The proposal is also subject to approval by the New York State Department of Education.

"This partnership with Great Point Studios and the S. I. Newhouse School at Syracuse University represents one of the most innovative approaches for educating and preparing today’s global learners," Superintendent of Schools Edwin M. Quezada said. "Aligned to New York State’s multiple high school diploma pathways, Yonkers students will benefit from a rigorous and relevant academic curriculum enriched with hands-on learning experiences supported by state-of-the-art technology. These students will have the opportunity in high school to take sufficient college-link courses to lead to a college associates degree. Upon graduating from this new media and production school, these students will be ready to enter the news and entertainment industry or continue their post-secondary college education.”