A small number of students designated by each high school came to Borough Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 26, and one at a time make their case for us to expend capital dollars (taxpayer money that can only be spent on items or projects that are long-term or permanent, like new libraries, or air conditioning systems, or athletic fields) on the needs of their respective schools.
These kids do their schools proud each and every year, using slide or video presentations to make the case that we should direct public funds to correct or improve conditions in their respective buildings or campuses.
This experience allows these young men and women to learn valuable lessons in interacting with others on a level above the ordinary, lessons that will serve them well throughout their academic and employment careers.
While some asks are a bit too expensive for us, we can help with most of them – and every school that made a presentation got all or a good portion of what they were asking for.
If this group of kids is at all representative of what our high schools are producing, we are very lucky indeed. The future of Staten Island will be in good hands.
Here's a list of schools that participated: Curtis High School, Tottenvile High School, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School, College of Staten Island High School for International Studies, the Eagle Academy for Young Men of Staten Island, the Lois & Richard Nicotra Early College Charter School, New Dorp High School, Staten Island Technical High School, Ralph R. Mckee High School, Susan Wagner High School and the Michael J. Petrides School.