PTA RECEIVES $5,000 GRANT FROM NY STATE SENATOR JOSE SERRANO!!

On April 9, we learned the happy news that NY Lawyers for the Public Interest(NYLPI) -- requesting on behalf of the MCSM PTA -- has received a $5,000 legislative grant from the office of New York State Senator Jose Serrano. The purpose of this grant is to provide funds through which NYLPI can engage an independent environmental consultant to review air and soil test results taken by Con Edison and the NY State Departments of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Health (DOH). Additionally, these funds will allow MCSM parents to have the consultant review Con Edison and DEC's plans for site remediation and offer independent, object advice to parents as to the merits and possible deficiencies or unresolved questions in those plans.

Our original request (submitted by NYLPI on our behalf) was $20,000, but this amount was estimated to cover the cost of an independent consultant through the end of the site remediation and development of the ongoing maintenance and monitoring plan. Regardless, Senator Serrano's grant of $5,000 will enable MCSM parents to access a qualified independent consultant for the next stage of this project, after which we can re-assess our needs and seek an additional grant to cover later stages of the remediation.

We are anticipating that Con Edison and DEC/DOH will be releasing their formal written plans in September, once school has resumed. They will be available to present and discuss those plans with parents at a PTA meeting and will provide a 30-day period for public comment. With NYLPI's assistance, the PTA Executive Board will look to engage an environmental consultant to help us through these next steps.

MCSM parents should know that Senator Serrano's office has monitored this issue closely since it first arose last October and November. Senator Serrano has been represented for every Con Edison presentation at MCSM by his staff, either Ms. Yvonne Przybyla or Mr. Brian Levinson. We are grateful for their continued involvement.

Senator Serrano represents the 28th Senate District, which includes Roosevelt Island, East Harlem, Randall's Island, and (in the Bronx) Mott Haven, Port Morris, High Bridge, Mount Eden, and Morris Heights.