ST. GEORGE — Students from high schools around Staten Island had a hand in directing taxpayer money to fund improvements to their campuses as part of a $22 million investment from Borough President James Oddo's office.
Oddo's school allocations included $2.7 million for projects pitched to him by high school students as part of the Borough Student Advisory Council.
"It means so much to just know that we have people listening," said Samantha Perez, a senior at New Dorp High School, who helped secure $1.5 million for field lights at her school.
"I want to be known for something at New Dorp High School, and now knowing that future students are going to enjoy the field lights because of this opportunity we've been given, it's such an amazing feeling," she said.
The other four winning projects pitched by students are: $100,000 for a new track at the College of Staten Island High School; $250,000 to improve the track at Tottenville High School; $600,000 to wire air conditioners at Susan Wagner High School; and $250,000 to upgrade the girls' locker room at Gaynor McCown High School.
As part of his budget, Oddo also allocated $5.3 million for recreational upgrades. They include $675,000 for security cameras at schools across the borough, $850,000 for career-training programs, $7.3 million for infrastructure improvements, and nearly $6 million for new technology.
"If you look any of the challenges that we have on Staten Island or across the city or around the country, the solution, the way to improve those things, is investing in young people," said Oddo, who added he's allocated more than $100 million for education since his days on the City Council.
