Hevesi Sticks Up For Beacon School

Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, D-Forest Hills, stuck his neck out for

Hevesi urged Mayor Michael Bloomberg to consider the success of given programs when considering closure, rather than identifying it as existing in a “low need” zip code.

Currently, the Beacon program at Russell Sage Junior High is targeted for closure because the 11375 zip code is more affluent than other areas. It is one of seven Beacon schools across the city that stand to be shut down in the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget.

Hevesi argued that the program’s location doesn’t prevent it from serving students and parents in desperate need.

“This program, while located in a low needs zip code, is overwhelmingly serving minority youth, and the success of the leadership development curriculum attracts students from all areas in Queens,” Hevesi said in his letter. “The programs popularity has allowed it to serve on average, over 1,200 students each year, despite its contractual obligation with the city only requiring the enrollment of 950 students.”

Hevesi is not the first local leader to point out the zip code as an issue for the local Beacon program. Last week, Community Board 6 District Manager Frank Gulluscio said much the same thing.

"We believe that we're being penalized because of our zip code,"

Hevesi suggested that the Beacon school be allowed to stay open on the merits of the program’s success, rather than local incomes.

“The Queens Community House Beacon Program has proven itself to be not only a successful program, but one that is highly sought after in Queens,” Hevesi said. “While I understand that the task of planning the yearly budget requires difficult decisions, I ask you to not cut funding to this program based solely upon its operation in an area that is zoned as a low needs zip code. I believe that reviewing the achievements of these programs should be the primary factor in determining the allocation of Beacon funding in FY 2013.”