Schools are bursting at the seams

1984

Packed classes

Throughout the year The Press highlighted the growing crisis of overcrowding in local schools. One report stated, “At PS 7, classes are meeting in closets. At PS 122, 50 kindergarteners share a room. The schools have dismantled libraries to gain space for teaching.”

School board members called crowding the district’s number one problem, but despite intensive lobbying and complaining, their frustrations mounted as, they claimed, the central Board of Education dragged its feet and bungled lease negotiations for additional space.