Dept. of Ed.’s ‘trailer’ trash
- Last Updated: 12:54 AM, March 26, 2013
- Posted: 12:54 AM, March 26, 2013
The city Department of Education will be required to report on the age and condition of its deteriorating stock of outdoor classroom trailers for the first time, under the proposed state budget.
The city DOE would also have to include a plan by late 2014 to reduce the number of transportable classrooms, under language state lawmakers added to budget bills they’re expected to pass this week.
There are currently more than 8,200 students who are educated in 357 classroom trailers, according to the latest DOE figures.
“Many of [the trailers] are 20 years old and rotting away,” said Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters.
I taught in a trailer with a door that did not close and did not get fixed until I made the Principal pay a visit on a below zero day. We had a bathroom, but no running water in the sink. We had exposed electrical outlets, no phone and no access to loud speaker. The trailer area flooded during rains and one day, when the trailers were evacuated, no one came and told my class. The roof of the trailer next door leaked and when the snow melted, the teacher had to hold an umbrella over his head to keep dry. I've heard conditions have gotten better, but they still are not good. The author of this article toured my trailer and did not bother to report the things he saw. Hopefully this will get something done to correct these horrendous conditions.
The city DOE would also have to include a plan by late 2014 to reduce the number of transportable classrooms, under language state lawmakers added to budget bills they’re expected to pass this week.
There are currently more than 8,200 students who are educated in 357 classroom trailers, according to the latest DOE figures.
“Many of [the trailers] are 20 years old and rotting away,” said Leonie Haimson, executive director of Class Size Matters.
I taught in a trailer with a door that did not close and did not get fixed until I made the Principal pay a visit on a below zero day. We had a bathroom, but no running water in the sink. We had exposed electrical outlets, no phone and no access to loud speaker. The trailer area flooded during rains and one day, when the trailers were evacuated, no one came and told my class. The roof of the trailer next door leaked and when the snow melted, the teacher had to hold an umbrella over his head to keep dry. I've heard conditions have gotten better, but they still are not good. The author of this article toured my trailer and did not bother to report the things he saw. Hopefully this will get something done to correct these horrendous conditions.
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