I am waiting to get more information from Public School 58 and from its PTA on two signs that appeared on the fence of the school yard, which runs along Smith Street. The Barclays Nets signs were hung there yesterday and seem to indicate that there was some corporate sponsorship from the bank best known for the highly controversial 'Barclays Center' arena at Atlantic Yards to the school.
The signs puzzled some of the school's parents yesterday afternoon. If Barclays had given anything to the school, they had not heard about it. Neither had one of the school's teachers, with whom I spoke.
I was told by someone in the office that Barclays paid for the new schoolyard. Though the yard has been totally refurbished last summer, most of the funds had been secured by our former Councilman Bill de Blasio before he left that office.
PS 29 secured the same funds at the same time, renovated their schoolyard and as far as I know, have no corporate sponsorship signs on their fence.
I will follow up with the school to get more information, but whatever monies Barclays coughed up shouldn't give the bank the right to turn a schoolyard into a place for advertisement. What's next? McDonald signs?
Its kind of a slippery slope.
I'll follow up with more information and if you are a PS 58 parent, please enlighten us.
***UPDATE***
A PS 58 mother was kind enough to get the scoop on the signs directly from the school's administration.
She writes:
I got the following info in an email from a school employee this afternoon:
Barclays Nets Community Alliance paid for part of our schoolyard renovation through Out 2 Play. I am told the newly hung signs are part of that agreement. I do not know why they were not received for display sooner. The news of Barclay's involvement was mentioned in a school website article last November. I've copied the text below. In addition, there was a public ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4th to which the entire community was invited. Representatives of the Barclays Nets Alliance made a presentation at the ceremony.
SELECTED NEWS STORY
November 03, 2010
Renovated School Yard Officially Open!
On November 4 at 10 AM, PS 58 officially opened its newly renovated school yard. A once blank slab of cracked asphalt has been transformed into a true play yard marked with colorful areas for both traditional sports and games and free-form dramatic play.
Thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, and the Barclays Nets Community Alliance. Thanks also to Assistant Principal Perlman, who along with parent Cheri Walsh, were instrumental in writing the grant and collaborating with Out2Play, a non-profit organization that designs and refurbishes playgrounds throughout New York City.
Barclays Nets Community Alliance paid for part of our schoolyard renovation through Out 2 Play. I am told the newly hung signs are part of that agreement. I do not know why they were not received for display sooner. The news of Barclay's involvement was mentioned in a school website article last November. I've copied the text below. In addition, there was a public ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4th to which the entire community was invited. Representatives of the Barclays Nets Alliance made a presentation at the ceremony.
SELECTED NEWS STORY
November 03, 2010
Renovated School Yard Officially Open!
On November 4 at 10 AM, PS 58 officially opened its newly renovated school yard. A once blank slab of cracked asphalt has been transformed into a true play yard marked with colorful areas for both traditional sports and games and free-form dramatic play.
Thanks to Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, former City Councilmember Bill DeBlasio, and the Barclays Nets Community Alliance. Thanks also to Assistant Principal Perlman, who along with parent Cheri Walsh, were instrumental in writing the grant and collaborating with Out2Play, a non-profit organization that designs and refurbishes playgrounds throughout New York City.
Thanks for getting us the info.
