IS 217/School of Performing Arts & Acción Academy, located at 977 Fox St. in Longwood, celebrated the official opening of its brand-new auditorium on Tuesday with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting attended by Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr. (D-17), faculty, staff, students and parents.
The state-of-the-art facility, funded by $800,000 from the Fiscal Year 2019 budget, is a major addition to the school’s performing arts program. During the ceremony, Salamanca highlighted his ongoing commitment to supporting local schools, noting that he has secured approximately $2 million for various projects at IS 217 since taking office in 2016.
“I am so happy to be here this evening with IS 217 staff, students, and parents as we unveil this beautiful new auditorium – an absolute necessity for a performing arts school,” Salamanca remarked. “For far too long, our Bronx students have been left behind in receiving equitable learning environments. As a native South Bronx kid, I was shocked to see that my District’s schools looked almost identical to how they did when I was a student in the ’80s. That’s why I’ve dedicated my time in office to making real investments in our educational institutions.”
Since taking office, Salamanca has been a vocal advocate for the improvement of educational facilities at IS 217. In Fiscal Year 2018, he allocated $103,000 for a new computer lab and $425,000 for playground upgrades. Following the $800,000 for the auditorium, he secured an additional $300,000 in 2023 to fund a hydroponic classroom aimed at enhancing the school’s science and sustainability programs.
The new auditorium is expected to provide a space for students to express their artistic talents, while the broader upgrades funded by Salamanca aim to improve the school’s educational offerings.
