 Borough President Vito Fossella announced allocations for three Staten Island intermediate schools which will completely overhaul and enhance their schoolyards and fields as our students “deserve the very best.” He learned from the principals and students at Totten (I.S. 34) Intermediate School, Barnes (I.S. 24) Intermediate School, and Paulo (I.S. 75) Intermediate School that their schoolyards had not undergone any major renovations in decades. Borough President Fossella visited the schools to outline the projects. At Totten Intermediate School, a full-sized, 100-yard turf football field with dedicated areas for softball, baseball, and soccer will be installed. It will stand as a year-round facility which will serve the students at Totten Intermediate School, as well as student-athletes from schools across Staten Island. As Borough President Fossella placed the ceremonial shovel into the ground and turned over the soil at Totten Intermediate School, the students cheered. “This dustbowl that has been here for 90 years will be transformed into a field of dreams -- it will be epic,” said Borough President Fossella. John Boyle, the principal of Totten Intermediate School, thanked Borough President Fossella in a heartfelt Facebook post. “Thanks to the incredible vision and unwavering commitment of Borough President Vito Fossella, I.S. 34 is turning a longtime dream into a game-changing reality,” he wrote in the post. “This project honors our proud tradition of athletics, champions, and school spirit while building something current and future Eagles will enjoy for generations. Whether you’re defending the nest, performing under the stars, or cheering from the sidelines -- this is your field.” Both Paulo and Barnes Intermediate Schools will receive updated schoolyards with areas for recreation, sports, and outdoor learning, including a full baseball field and a mixed-use soccer pitch and football field. At Paulo Intermediate School, Borough President Fossella was greeted by the cheerleaders and the Paulo Panther, the school’s mascot, as he walked through the hallway on his way to the auditorium. The students had asked him to make their Panther dream of a new field “a reality.” “When I saw the development outside and I learned it was just going to be replaced with another asphalt schoolyard, what I told Principal Zapata and what I am telling you today, is that we’re going to blow it up and have a whole new turf field for all of you,” said Borough President Fossella at an assembly as confetti was released into the auditorium. During his visit to Barnes Intermediate School, Borough President Fossella was welcomed by the cheerleaders and the band playing the trumpets to the tune of New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz. “A few weeks ago, I toured the schoolyard and frankly, it needs work,” Borough President Fossella told the students. “The good news is that at this time next year, we will start construction on a brand-new turf field for you. You deserve it, Staten Island families deserve the very best, and you’re going to get the very best.” His announcement was met with rounds of applause and shouts of "Vito, Vito, Vito." Our office remains committed to ensuring our Staten Island students have the best possible academic and recreational experiences. 
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