Keeping school buildings open late and on weekends as centers for adult education, recreation, meetings, and social services for the whole neighborhood.
The School as Community Hub Open-After-Hours Model
Public school buildings are among the most underutilized public assets in the city, sitting empty for half the day and most of the summer. Zhoran Mamdanis Open Schools policy transforms every school into a true community hub. Schools would remain open until 10 p.m. on weekdays and for weekend hours, hosting a wide array of programs for all ages: adult literacy and GED classes, job training workshops, recreational sports leagues, community meetings, art studios, and health clinics. A dedicated Community Director at each school would coordinate partnerships with local nonprofits and manage the space use.
This model maximizes public investment, provides desperately needed space for neighborhood life, and deepens the bond between schools and their communities. It turns schools from islands that serve only children for part of the day into engines of lifelong learning and connection. A school should be the heart of its neighborhood, not a fortress that closes at 3 p.m., Mamdani argues. By opening our schools to the community, we build social cohesion, provide vital resources, and send a powerful message: this public space belongs to all of us, all the time.
