The citywide Panel for Educational Policy (PEP) has given a green light to moving P.S. 330. Beginning in September 2013, the school will move into a new building at 111-08 Northern Blvd. in Corona and become P.S. 287.

P.S. 330 opened in September 2010 in the former P.S. 13 annex at 86-37 53rd Ave. in East Elmhurst as an “overflow site” to alleviate overcrowding in Corona and cut down on kindergarten wait lists throughout District 24, the most overcrowded district in the city.

Currently, P.S. 330 serves 220 students in kindergarten and first grade and will expand to serve kindergarten through second grade this September. Once in its new home for the 2013- 2014 school year, P.S. 287 plans to expand by an additional grade per year to the fifth grade by the 2015-2016 school year at a total enrollment of 570 to 630 students. Students now travel almost three miles from Corona to the East Elmhurst location, and at a June 18 public hearing P.S. 330 PTA President Sulay Tapia said the move was in the best interests of the children because it would further help relieve overcrowding, was closer to students’ homes and would provide improved facilities such as a gym and air conditioning.

Groundbreaking for P.S. 287 took place on Feb. 2, 2012. Councilmember Julissa Ferreras, Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, Assemblymember Jeff Aubry and state Senator Jose Peralta attended the ceremonies. District 24 still needs space for almost 2,000 more students and neighboring District 30 is not far behind, with space required for about 1,400 more students.

Summer school began last week for about 33,000 students citywide in grades three through eight who were recommended to repeat their respective grades at the end of the school year in June. The annual summer meals program has begun as well and will run through August 31. Free breakfast and lunch are available to individuals up to 18 years old at 1,000 locations throughout the five boroughs, including pools, schools, libraries, parks, public housing sites and soup kitchens.

Breakfast is served from 8 to 9:15 a.m. and lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. The DOE also operates a refrigerated food truck that serves meals only on weekends at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

“Children do not need to be enrolled in summer school to participate in the summer meals program and no application is required,” DOE Deputy Chancellor of Operations Kathleen Grimm announced. For more information, call 311 or visit www.schools.nyc.gov.