NYguy
March 25th, 2003, 04:22 PM
NY Post...
TWEED GETS 'CLASSY'
By CARL CAMPANILE
March 25, 2003 -- Mayor Bloomberg yesterday officially opened the glitzy new $9 million City Hall Academy to students at the Department of Education's Tweed headquarters - replete with opulent classroom chandeliers, snazzy video bulletins and a spectacular rotunda.
But United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten blasted the academy as an "unnecessary luxury" given the city's fiscal crisis and the mayor's talk of laying off city workers such as teachers' aides.
"This project sends all the wrong signals," Weingarten said.
Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said students will spend two weeks at the school to study the history of New York City. *One classroom even gives a visual geography lesson: A colorful map of the city is embedded in the floor and occupies about half the classroom.
Seventy-five third-graders from three different schools - PS 234 in Battery Park City and PS 21 and PS 67 in Brooklyn - were bused in yesterday to learn about the Brooklyn Bridge.
Bloomberg, despite the city's fiscal crisis, followed through on his promise to open a school at the new education headquarters located in the former Tweed Courthouse - adjacent to City Hall. He said the academy's presence will remind top educators that their main mission is to serve students.
Last year, Weingarten called the academy plan "a nice little program."
It cost the city $7.5 million to convert the first floor of the courthouse into an education facility, which includes seven classrooms, a cafeteria, an administrative office, and high-tech video bulletins in the main entrance.
But one City Hall source said the price tag for school is closer to $4 million because some of the renovations would have occurred even without the new academy.
Weingarten estimated it will cost $1.6 million to operate the new school on a yearly basis, including bus service.
The union leader also chided the educational rationale behind the school, charging it's nothing more than a glorified "two-week trip" for a small group of students.
But Klein defended the academy.
"This is all about substance," he said. "Kids will get to know firsthand not only the city's culture and history but also the kids who live in other boroughs, go to other schools and come from different heritages."
Academy Principal Ann Switzer stressed that the history program will supplement the basic curriculum focusing on reading, writing and math.
There are currently six teachers at the school.
When fully operational in the fall, 200 elementary and middle schools will be taught at Tweed each day.
TWEED GETS 'CLASSY'
By CARL CAMPANILE
March 25, 2003 -- Mayor Bloomberg yesterday officially opened the glitzy new $9 million City Hall Academy to students at the Department of Education's Tweed headquarters - replete with opulent classroom chandeliers, snazzy video bulletins and a spectacular rotunda.
But United Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten blasted the academy as an "unnecessary luxury" given the city's fiscal crisis and the mayor's talk of laying off city workers such as teachers' aides.
"This project sends all the wrong signals," Weingarten said.
Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Joel Klein said students will spend two weeks at the school to study the history of New York City. *One classroom even gives a visual geography lesson: A colorful map of the city is embedded in the floor and occupies about half the classroom.
Seventy-five third-graders from three different schools - PS 234 in Battery Park City and PS 21 and PS 67 in Brooklyn - were bused in yesterday to learn about the Brooklyn Bridge.
Bloomberg, despite the city's fiscal crisis, followed through on his promise to open a school at the new education headquarters located in the former Tweed Courthouse - adjacent to City Hall. He said the academy's presence will remind top educators that their main mission is to serve students.
Last year, Weingarten called the academy plan "a nice little program."
It cost the city $7.5 million to convert the first floor of the courthouse into an education facility, which includes seven classrooms, a cafeteria, an administrative office, and high-tech video bulletins in the main entrance.
But one City Hall source said the price tag for school is closer to $4 million because some of the renovations would have occurred even without the new academy.
Weingarten estimated it will cost $1.6 million to operate the new school on a yearly basis, including bus service.
The union leader also chided the educational rationale behind the school, charging it's nothing more than a glorified "two-week trip" for a small group of students.
But Klein defended the academy.
"This is all about substance," he said. "Kids will get to know firsthand not only the city's culture and history but also the kids who live in other boroughs, go to other schools and come from different heritages."
Academy Principal Ann Switzer stressed that the history program will supplement the basic curriculum focusing on reading, writing and math.
There are currently six teachers at the school.
When fully operational in the fall, 200 elementary and middle schools will be taught at Tweed each day.