For this fall semester, WJPS 12th graders will be participating in a citywide initiative for a New York City schools’ participatory budgeting project. 

Over the last 10 years, the Department of Education has provided New York City schools that are participating with more than $2000. Students get the opportunity to decide what the money can best be used for. 

Every senior economics class will be split up into multiple groups where students will work on their own proposals for what to use the money for. 

Each class will vote on a winner, and each candidate will present their proposals on a recorded video which will be uploaded to Google Classroom for students of every grade to vote on one final winner. 

Whatever the students decide is what the money will be spent on for the whole school. 

This has been done before at WJPS, but on a smaller scale. Last year, students decided to use the money for sports balls to use at recess.

WJPS assistant principal Mr. Bacharach said, “It’s a good opportunity for student voices to be heard and have the chance to decide what’s good and what’s important for our school to improve on.” 

WJPS 12th grader Daniela Vicente said, “It sounds like a great idea to involve students with budgeting, especially the seniors.”