JACKSON HEIGHTS — The city is planning to rezone two neighborhood middle schools to help alleviate overcrowding, which could impact students at several schools across the district, the Department of Education announced.
Parents will have the opportunity to share their thoughts on the proposal, which would change the boundaries for the schools, I.S. 145 and I.S 230, at a meeting on Jan. 13. The original meeting, which was scheduled for December, was canceled due to snow.
Under the proposed changes, which would take effect next September, the boundaries for I.S. 230 would expand by about 10 blocks along Roosevelt Avenue, from 83rd Street to 92nd Street.
The new territory, which would shrink the zone for I.S. 145, would be served by an annex for I.S. 230 that is under construction in the neighborhood.
These changes could impact students at elementary schools across Jackson Heights, including P.S. 69, P.S. 149 and P.S. 222.
The new map was drawn after the DOE took into account a number of factors, including travel distance for students, population growth and maintaining diversity of the schools, the department said.
The zoning also takes into consideration the new annex for I.S. 230, which is still under construction on 34th Avenue and 74th Street and is scheduled to open next September, the DOE said.
Both middle schools are currently over 100 percent capacity, and parents have asked for a relief for years.
Issac Carmignani, chair of the zoning committee and second vice president of Community Education Council in District 30, said the proposed changes will help fix overcrowding — but it's no "silver bullet."
"This is one of those that there's no perfect or ideal solutions because schools are where you can build them," he said.
"But I.S 145 needs the release, and this is a way to address it by impacting the least amount of families."
The public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13 at I.S 145, 33-34 80th St., Jackson Heights. For more information, contact the Community District Education Council 30 at 718-391-8380 or cec30@schools.nyc.gov
