The Nation - News from Oct. 28, 1987

The nation’s largest public education system, New York City’s, has crumbling, vermin-infested schools that will cost an estimated $8 billion--nearly twice what was expected--to bring into “good repair,” a task force said. “There are entire school buildings without drinkable water, buildings with burned-out classrooms, classrooms with severe water leaks, and worse,” said Amy Linden, the task force chief. She said the conditions are worsened by overcrowding of the more than 1 million students. “On any given school day, children can be seen crammed into closets and bathrooms that are relabeled as classrooms,” Linden said. The task force estimated that needed repairs would take 10 years.