President's Page
CELESTE A. RAMIREZ
It is an honor to serve as President & Chief Executive Officer of the New York City School Construction Authority. This role is also a homecoming. I got my start at the SCA, and I saw firsthand the dedication of the people who build and improve our public schools. Returning today, I am honored to lead this remarkable organization and to help carry out Mayor Mamdani's vision by delivering for the students and families of New York City.
My commitment to public education is deeply personal. I am a proud product of New York City Public Schools, and when my family moved to the Bronx, I remember what it felt like to be welcomed with open arms by my local public school. That experience shaped my belief in the power of public education and reinforced in me the belief that every child deserves a safe, inspiring place to learn and thrive.
As I begin this role, my immediate focus is on what matters most: helping ensure our schools are ready to welcome students on the first day of classes and working closely with our partners to meet New York State's class size requirements. These are urgent priorities, and we will approach them with transparency, accountability, and a shared commitment to delivering results.
Looking ahead, I am focused on ensuring projects are delivered safely, on time, and with the strong oversight necessary to achieve that goal. We will continue investing in green, accessible schools that serve every child, while strengthening our partnerships with New York City Public Schools, parents, teachers, community leaders, and elected officials. Earning and maintaining the public's trust will guide everything we do.
When I worked at the SCA earlier in my career, I experienced both the tremendous impact of our mission and the incredible scale of the responsibility we carry. That is why I believe we must be a transparent, compassionate, and communicative organization. We must invite the community into the conversation because the schools we build belong to the neighborhoods they serve. I come from those communities, and I intend to ensure their voices help shape our work.
I believe great public institutions are built on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to service. Together, we will continue delivering high-quality schools, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating learning environments where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Thank you for visiting the School Construction Authority. I invite you to learn more about our work and the important role we play in building New York City's future.
Building Cutting-Edge Schools
Over the past three decades, the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA) has located, designed, and constructed the most cutting edge educational and recreational facilities for New York City public school students. Since its creation, the SCA has provided more than 280,000 new school seats for New York City students, which includes the nation's largest free Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) network with approximately 11.000 seats under the Mayor's UPK and 3-K initiatives. In addition, the SCA has protected, repaired, and upgraded over 1,800 schools in over 1,400 school buildings, half of which are over 60 years old.
Our record has been exemplary and is always improving. The SCA has constructed an unprecedented number of schools and additions and completed thousands of capital improvement projects. In December 2021, the SCA completed upgrades to electrical infrastructure in order to provide air conditioning (A/C) for every classroom in New York City, one year ahead of schedule.
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Ongoing Improvements
We have continued the City’s commitment to remove Transportable Classroom Units (TCUs) across the five boroughs. In fact, since 2015, we have removed or are in the process of removing all but the final 45 of 354 original TCUs, and we continue to develop plans to remove those.
The SCA began the 2021-2022 school year opening eleven new schools/additions, leases, and Pre-K facilities. Each location was opened on schedule despite being temporarily forced to pause due to the pandemic. These new facilities added over 3,700 much-needed seats in overcrowded districts. Since 2014, the SCA has added more than 55,000 new seats, in fulfillment of the Mayor’s commitment to reduce overcrowding and increase diversity.
In 2022, we look forward to opening 12 new buildings and additions as well as seven Pre-K/3-K centers.