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District 75 leaders describe placement planning, colocations and capital concerns at District 28 forum
Summary
District 75 officials told District 28 families they are reserving space in new construction, using colocations and building councils to manage shared space, and pledged to follow up on capital needs at the Queens Transition Center and connection to the School Construction Authority.
Andy Corso, who leads District 75 placement work for the special education office, described how the city is planning for growth in District 75 and how colocated sites and building councils will allocate shared space.
“Every new construction building that we do has dedicated space, preplanned space for District 75,” Corso said, explaining a four-part strategy that includes reserving space in new schools, expanding District 75 seats, opening colocated sites and engaging local communities about making room in community schools.
Corso said the placement team attempts to place District 75 students “in the closest available location” and that the office assesses when students are ready to return to less-restrictive community school settings, including supported transitions where District 75 staff help students move back to community schools.
When Council-office representative Vanessa Sparks raised capital concerns about the Queens Transition Center — a standalone District 75 building built more than 75 years ago — she asked to connect the center with the School Construction Authority for a building assessment and for help identifying needed projects. Corso agreed to add that to a running agenda and to help connect the principal and city partners.
Officials also addressed protections for staff and families reporting concerns. Corso and others urged that confidential reports could be made through the special education inbox and described staff points of contact who will work with district leadership to investigate complaints while aiming to protect against retaliation.
The forum included discussion of workforce initiatives that affect District 75: city-funded paid additional sessions for occupational and physical therapists and scholarships and loan-forgiveness programs designed to build hiring pipelines. Sanchez said these steps have expanded services for hundreds of students while the city continues hiring efforts.
Organizers said they would post the presentation deck and recording and invited follow-up via the special education inbox to arrange SCA connections and further capital-review conversations.
The discussion closed with a commitment to follow-up and to keep families informed of next procedural steps.
