Senator Montgomery reconvenes the Harbor School Working Group for an update on the proposal for a Harbor Middle School

The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School is one of the true gems in the New York City education system. Each day, the lives of young people are being transformed as they are introduced to career paths in the maritime industry. Each time I have had the honor of visiting the Harbor School, I am inspired by the young students I meet and their thirst for knowledge. ​

Senator Velmanette Montgomery reconvenes the Harbor School Working Group for an update on the proposal for a Harbor School Middle School. She is joined by Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon; Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Diana Reyna, Councilman Carlos Menchaca; Murray Fisher, President of the New York Harbor Foundation, Mary Muecke, Executive Director of External Affairs for SUNY Maritime; and special guest, Lorraine Grillo, President and CEO of the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA).

As a follow-up to the Working Group’s previous meetings, President Grillo announced that after a year of evaluating potential sites, SCA has identified a site in Red Hook for a permanent home for  the Harbor Middle School. While negotiations continue, SCA hopes to begin the review process in the next two months.

Senator Montgomery looks forward to continuing to engage stakeholders as this project moves forward.

BACKGROUND:

Senator Montgomery has had the privilege of working with Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, one of the top high schools in New York City to help build a pipeline for Harbor School graduates into SUNY Maritime, one of the premier maritime institutions in the world. With the success of this collaboration, the idea emerged for creating a Harbor Middle School.

For the past several years, Senator Montgomery has been working with the New York Harbor Foundation, the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, the New York State Education Department, the New York State Board of Regents, the New York City Department of Education, the School Construction Authority, elected officials, government and community stakeholders to expand the Harbor pipeline to create a feeder middle school in the Red Hook or Sunset Park area.  Both communities are adjacent to the waterfront and a quick ferry ride to the Harbor School on Governor’s Island.

The Harbor School is a Career and Technical Education school that offers technical credentials in 6 marine fields: Aquaculture, Marine Biology Research, Marine Systems Technology, Ocean Engineering, Professional Diving, and Vessel Operations. It is the home base for the Billion Oyster Project, a Harbor Foundation program aimed at restoring one billion oysters to New York Harbor and engaging New Yorkers in their local marine environment.

For more information about Senator Montgomery's collaboration with Harbor High School, visit https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/articles/velmanette-montgomery/senator-montgomery-receives-captains-award-new-york-harbor

For more information about the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, visit https://www.newyorkharborschool.org