BROOKLYN — A Park Slope elementary school with a controversial affirmative action admissions policy launched a brand-new building with a ribbon-cutting Thursday.
P.S. 133's new home at 610 Baltic St. will allow the school to expand to 935 students from pre-K to fifth grade. The choice school is also implementing a new admissions policy dedicating 30 percent of the seats to children from District 13 and 15 who are learning to speak English or who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. The Department of Education approved the policy following months of community debate.
Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott, City Councilman Brad Lander and other officials, along with parents and students at the school, were on hand for Thursday morning's ribbon-cutting.
“The new construction offers the very best for our children to be prepared for the older grades and for college or a career once they graduate from high school,” Walcott said in a statement.
The new building, which is fully accessible to disabled students, features science labs, a library, an auditorium and a gym, as well as volleyball and basketball courts.
The $66 million building was originally scheduled to open in September 2012, but the date was pushed back after construction delays.
Lander praised P.S. 133's diversity-focused admissions policy in a statement following the ribbon-cutting.
"DOE has implemented a well-thought-out diversity model that is being closely watched by equal access experts and advocates throughout the city and country," Lander said.