By Dan Allen
Dantallen@gmail.com
The yearly evaluations required by the federal No Child Left Behind law, the State Education Department and the city Department of Education create a game of risk and reward in which the stakes are high.
Jesse Mojica, director of education and youth services for Borough President Carrion, says he understands the pressure on administrators and teachers to perform.
Mojica hopes to help by officially announcing in June a plan to use the borough president’s budget to build a school-based health clinic for Banana Kelly.
“We want to fund it. We know the tremendous needs. Too many children use the emergency room as primary healthcare,” said Mojica, who has visited Banana Kelly with the borough president on several occasions.
The health center would be open to community members as well as Banana Kelly students.
Mohica estimates the final cost to be around $900,000. Average capital fund requests for educational projects are around $500,000.
“If it goes through, it will be one of the largest allocations we’ve ever given,” he said.