The Office of Staten Island Borough President
07/10/2026 | Press release | Archived content
'Let's Exercise A Little Common Sense': Proposed Solution For Curtis, McKee High Schools
Borough President Vito Fossella has proposed a solution to ease overcrowding at Curtis High School and to relocate McKee High School, rather than the city's plan to build a brand-new high school in "one of St. George's only functional parking lots."
In its current plans, the Department of Education has proposed building a high school with more than 800 seats in St. George, which would also include seats for special education students in District 75. The school would be located at 25 Wall St., between Academy Place and Stuyvesant Place, which is currently the site of a paved parking lot.
"Curtis needs additional school seats," said Borough President Fossella while walking outside of McKee High School. "There is a proposal to take over the only functional parking lot in all of St. George, which is silly and not wise. We need a new McKee High School, so let's build a new McKee somewhere else. As an example, the former Hungerford School, located on Tompkins Avenue -- it's available and it's free. Let's use this existing building as the Curtis annex. It's literally right down the block and we've sort of killed two birds with one stone."
Borough President Fossella noted there are five massive projects planned for St. George, including the school, a courthouse expansion and three high-rise apartment buildings that will bring hundreds of additional cars to already congested streets.
"So, let's exercise a little common sense, let's build another McKee, use this one as the Curtis annex and let's leave the parking lot alone," said Borough President Fossella.
In its current plans, the Department of Education has proposed building a high school with more than 800 seats in St. George, which would also include seats for special education students in District 75. The school would be located at 25 Wall St., between Academy Place and Stuyvesant Place, which is currently the site of a paved parking lot.
"Curtis needs additional school seats," said Borough President Fossella while walking outside of McKee High School. "There is a proposal to take over the only functional parking lot in all of St. George, which is silly and not wise. We need a new McKee High School, so let's build a new McKee somewhere else. As an example, the former Hungerford School, located on Tompkins Avenue -- it's available and it's free. Let's use this existing building as the Curtis annex. It's literally right down the block and we've sort of killed two birds with one stone."
Borough President Fossella noted there are five massive projects planned for St. George, including the school, a courthouse expansion and three high-rise apartment buildings that will bring hundreds of additional cars to already congested streets.
"So, let's exercise a little common sense, let's build another McKee, use this one as the Curtis annex and let's leave the parking lot alone," said Borough President Fossella.
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