File #: Int 0195-2024    Version: * Name: Requiring the department of education to report on certain physical facilities at city schools.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Education
On agenda: 2/28/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to report on certain physical facilities at city schools
Sponsors: Jennifer Gutiérrez, Alexa Avilés, Eric Dinowitz, Lincoln Restler, Farah N. Louis, Shahana K. Hanif, Crystal Hudson, James F. Gennaro, (in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough Presiden
Council Member Sponsors: 8
Summary: This bill would require the Department of Education to report on certain physical facilities at public schools, including gyms, cafeterias, libraries, science and computer labs, and dedicated spaces for nurses, social workers, and guidance counselors. The report would include a description of the condition of each space and the approximate year in which it was last updated.
Indexes: Report Required
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 195, 2. Int. No. 195, 3. February 28, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 2-28-24, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - February 28, 2024

Int. No. 195

 

By Council Members Gutiérrez, Aviles, Dinowitz, Restler, Louis, Hanif, Hudson and Gennaro (in conjunction with the Brooklyn Borough President)

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of education to report on certain physical facilities at city schools

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Subsection b of section 21-952 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 56 for the year 2014, is amended to read as follows:

b. Not later than February 15, 2015, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the council and post on the department's website a report of information regarding guidance counselors and social workers for the current school year. Such report shall include, but not be limited to: (i) the number of full and part-time guidance counselors and social workers in each school, (ii) the guidance counselor and social worker to student ratio in each school, (iii) whether the guidance counselor or social worker is providing counseling assistance to more than one school, (iv) the number of guidance counselors and social workers who provide counseling services as mandated by an IEP as of December 15 of the current school year, (v) the number of staff in each school who received professional development or training in postsecondary planning as of the prior school year, [and] (vi) the number of licensed and certified bilingual guidance counselors and social workers in each school, and (vii) whether each school has an office or other dedicated physical space for social workers or guidance counselors to provide services, a brief description of the condition of each such space, and the approximate year in which each such space was last updated. Such report shall also include the number of guidance counselors and social workers in the absent teacher reserve pool for grades seven through twelve, and information regarding any guidance memorandums issued by the department regarding college preparedness. Such report shall include demographic information for students in each school, including, but not limited to race, ethnicity, English language learner status, special education status, and the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced price lunch pursuant to guidelines promulgated by the United States department of agriculture.

§ 2. Paragraph 6 of subdivision b of section 21-960 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 127 for the year 2019, is amended to read as follows:

6. Information on all designated indoor and outdoor facilities used by the school for physical education instruction including, but not limited to:

(a) Information on all designated physical education instruction spaces inside or attached to the school including (i) the size of the space in square feet; (ii) whether the space is used for any purpose other than physical education instruction; and (iii) whether the space is used by any other schools including co-located schools in the same building and the names of such schools;

(b) Information regarding all off-site indoor and outdoor spaces that are used by the school for the purpose of physical education instruction, including but not limited to (i) the name and the location of the off-site space or facility; and (ii) whether the space is being used by any other schools including co-located schools in the same building and the names of such schools; and

(c) A brief description of the condition of each space used for physical education instruction described in subparagraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph, and the approximate year in which each such space was last updated;

§ 3. Paragraph 6 of subdivision b of section 21-972 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 177 for the year 2016, is amended to read as follows:

 6. Information regarding the total available bandwidth in megabits per second provided in each school building, whether there is one or more accessible wireless local area networks, and if so, the maximum link rate expressed in megabits per second for each; and for each such school building containing more than one school, the schools in such building.

§ 4. Title 21-A of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new chapter 31 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 31

REPORTING ON SCHOOL FACILITIES

§ 21-1002 Definitions. For purposes of this chapter, the term “school” means a school of the city school district.

§ 21-1003 Reporting on School Facilities. a. On February 15 annually, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and post conspicuously on the department’s website a report on the physical facilities of schools which shall include the following:

1. The number of science laboratories in each school, a brief description of the condition of each science laboratory space, and the approximate year in which each such space was last updated;

2. The number of computer laboratories in each school, a brief description of the condition of each computer laboratory space, and the approximate year in which each such space was last updated;

3. The number of libraries in each school, a brief description of the condition of each library space, and the approximate year in which each such space was last updated;

4. The number of cafeterias or dedicated spaces for food service in each school, a brief description of the condition of each cafeteria or food service space, and the approximate year in which each such space was last updated;

5. The number of playgrounds, outdoor recreational areas, or other spaces for non-instructional physical activity by students in each school, a brief description of the condition of each such space, and the approximate year in which each was last updated;

6. The number of offices or dedicated spaces established for student security, law enforcement, or corrections purposes in each school, a brief description of the condition of each such space, and the approximate year in which each was last updated;

7. The number of nurse’s offices or dedicated physical spaces for a nurse to provide health services in each school, a brief description of the condition of each room or space, and the approximate year in which each such space was last updated;

8. The number of offices or dedicated spaces established for restorative justice programs in each school, a brief description of the condition of each such space, and the approximate year in which each was last updated; and

9. For each school, the general condition and the year of last update of all:

(a) Roof decks;

(b) Interior walls and ceiling finishes; and

(c) Heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems.

§ 5. This local law takes effect immediately.

 

 

Session 13

LS #10476

1/25/24

 

 

Session 12

NAW

LS #10476

6/9/23 3:11 PM