Big Win for Yonkers Schools

A year after Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano launched his Rebuild Yonkers Schools campaign, the New York State Legislature has passed a bill that would provide $300 million to build three new schools in Yonkers.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer, will help to build a new Gorton High School and two new PreK-8 schools to reduce overcrowding in a district which has more than 27,000 students.

“Today marks a milestone in our efforts to rebuild Yonkers Schools. The passing of this act signifies our State’s and City’s commitment to address our overcrowded schools and to aid the thousands of students in the Yonkers Public Schools whose education will benefit from modern, healthy learning environments,” said Mayor Spano.

Business Council of Westchester President and CEO Marsha Gordon congratulated Spano and Yonkers School officials, saying rebuilding Yonkers schools would help to open up new economic development opportunities in the city. “Yonkers has worked hard to attract new development to its city by investing in infrastructure,’’ said Gordon. “The construction of new schools will add momentum to these efforts in addition to providing the quality environment that all our school children deserve.’’