Evander Child and P.S. 103 get grants

Evander Child and P.S. 103 get grants

The Evander Child High School campus and P.S. 103 now boast the funds needed to construct better learning environments.

On Thursday, February 4, Councilman Larry Seabrook visited students at the Evander Child campus and M.S. 103 to announce several grants for improvements at the north Bronx schools.

Seabrook’s first stop was the Evander Child campus at 800 E. Gun Hill Road, where he was joined by the principals of the High School for Writing and Communication Arts, the Bronx High School for Contemporary Arts, the Bronx Lab School, the High School of Computers and Technology and the Bronx Academy of Health Careers. Seabrook delivered a $300,000 grant.

In the past, Seabrook has helped fund improvements to the Evander Child campus auditorium, such as new seats, lights and an audio system. He has also funded improvements to the campus’ library.Seabrook’s new grant will fund outdoor landscaping.

“I wanted this school to look like a real campus,” Seabrook said.“To make it look like the type of place where students are preparing to go to college.These students are the best and they deserve the best.”

Seabrook then traveled to P.S. 103 at 4125 Carpenter Avenue, where he announced more good news to younger students.The councilman presented the school with two $500,000 grants.

According to principal Alice Brown, the money is desperately needed. P.S. 103 needs to add a functional library and a playground for the some 1,100 students who attend the school.

For more than ten years, the P.S. 103 library has been closed off, thanks to overcrowding. Brown hopes to reopen the space as a library and has been slowly adding books. She plans to knock down a wall to expand the room, which is no larger than a small classroom. Brown also wants to install a media center and a white board.

P.S. 103 will use its second grant to reopen a large rooftop playground that has been closed for more than 30 years. Brown intends to have engineers to evaluate the rooftop’s safety, then draw plans for a new playground.

“[Seabrook] is granting us such a wonderful gift,” Brown said.“He is helping us to make better learners and have the best facility for our kids.”

To show gratitude, the P.S. 103 step team, Bollywood dance team and chorus performed for Seabrook and presented the councilman with a plaque.

Reach reporter Amanda Marinaccio at 718 742-3394 or amarinaccio@cnglocal.com