FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 16, 2026

Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks Advances New Curtis High School Annex to Expand State-of-the-Art Nursing Program

STATEN ISLAND, NY — Majority Whip Kamillah M. Hanks announced the advancement of a new Curtis High School Annex at 25 Wall Street that will expand the school’s state-of-the-art Nursing Program and create additional pathways into healthcare careers for Staten Island students.

Curtis High School currently serves more than 300 students through its Nursing Program. The new annex will allow the program to expand by up to 100 additional seats, creating opportunities for even more Staten Island students to pursue careers in healthcare. Demand remains strong, with more than 150 students applying this year for just 90 available seats. This expansion will help ensure that more qualified students can access the program instead of being turned away due to limited capacity.

The project will also provide much-needed classroom space at Curtis High School, which currently operates at 127 percent utilization. By addressing overcrowding and expanding one of the school’s most successful career and technical education programs, the annex will support both the immediate needs of Curtis students and the long-term workforce needs of Staten Island.

“This project represents an investment in both education and workforce development,” said Majority Whip Kamillah M. Hanks. “Expanding Curtis High School’s state-of-the-art Nursing Program means giving more Staten Island students a direct pathway into strong, in-demand healthcare careers. At the same time, we are relieving overcrowding and strengthening the pipeline of future healthcare professionals our borough depends on. This is a major win for Curtis, our students, and the future of Staten Island.”

The expansion will strengthen the connection between high school education, higher education, clinical training, and careers with Staten Island’s leading healthcare institutions. It also creates an opportunity to deepen partnerships between Curtis High School, local hospitals, healthcare providers, educators, and the nursing profession.

“There is an ever-increasing demand for skilled healthcare workers, and the expansion of the Curtis High School Nursing Program meets that demand head-on,” said City Council Speaker Julie Menin. “This expansion allows the great work of this program to continue, giving Staten Island students a direct pathway from the classroom to meaningful careers in healthcare. I’m grateful to Majority Whip Hanks for building the partnerships with local hospitals, healthcare providers, and Staten Island’s public schools that made this expansion possible.” 

“Every student deserves access to a high-quality learning environment where they can thrive, and the approval of a new annex for Curtis High School represents a meaningful investment in Staten Island students and families,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “This expansion will create additional space to support the highly sought after nursing program while helping meet the needs of a growing school community. We are grateful to Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks, the New York City Council, and our partners who helped make this milestone possible, and we look forward to the opportunities this investment will create for current and future generations of Curtis High School students.”

“The purchase of 25 Wall Street to create the Curtis annex will do more than relieve overcrowding — it will create real opportunities to expand our nursing program, one of the most well-renowned in the city, and to give our kids opportunities they deserve. We want to thank Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks, the New York City Council, and the School Construction Authority for making this investment in our students a reality.” — Dr. Roderick Palton, Superintendent, Community School District 31

“I am thrilled to hear about the development of our new annex at 25 Wall Street, a transformative investment in the future of Curtis High School. This exciting expansion will allow us to grow our prestigious Nursing program, which consistently receives far more applicants than we are able to accommodate each year, creating opportunities for even more students to pursue careers in healthcare. The additional space will also help us better meet future class size requirements while continuing to provide the high-quality educational experience that Curtis High School is known for. This is an exciting step forward for our students, staff, and the entire Curtis community, and I am thankful for Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks advocacy in advancing this project.” — Nicholas Mele, Principal, Curtis High School

“Every student deserves the opportunity to learn in a school that has the space and resources to thrive,” said SCA President and CEO Celeste A. Ramirez. “This new annex for Curtis High School represents an important investment in Staten Island’s students and our shared commitment to meeting class size requirements. Through our strong partnership with City Hall, NYC Public Schools, parents, teachers, administrators, and Majority Whip Kamillah Hanks, we are aligning capital investments with the educational needs of our communities. This project will help relieve overcrowding, expand space for student programs, and ensure Curtis High School is well positioned to serve generations of students for years to come.”

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, said: “The New York State Nurses Association is proud to support the proposed expansion of the Curtis High School Nursing Program through the development of the Curtis High School Annex. This project will strengthen the nursing education pipeline in New York and create a meaningful pathway for young people on Staten Island to pursue a nursing career. Expanding opportunities for students today is an investment in the future health of our communities. We congratulate Majority Whip Hanks for investing in the next generation of nurses on Staten Island.”

The proposal represents a significant investment in career and technical education on Staten Island. It will allow more students to pursue careers in nursing and other medical professions while helping ensure local healthcare institutions have access to a strong and prepared workforce for years to come.

Majority Whip Hanks thanked the New York City School Construction Authority, New York City Public Schools, First Deputy Chancellor Danielle Giunta, Superintendent Palton, Principal Nicholas Mele, educators, healthcare partners, organized labor, and community stakeholders for their work to advance the proposal.

The project will now continue through the remaining approval process. Majority Whip Hanks will continue working with all stakeholders to ensure the annex delivers the space, resources, and partnerships necessary for the Nursing Program to grow and thrive.