CBS2 Demanding Answers: City's Only Culinary High School Has Lacked Working Stoves Since June

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- At the city's only culinary high school, the stoves and ovens have been in the fritz since June.

The students at Food and Finance High School, 525 W. 50th St., have been left with a bad taste in their mouth. CBS2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer was demanding answers about the problem Thursday.

Last year, the students at the much-acclaimed school were happily cooking, baking and getting hands-on experience – taking classes to prepare for careers in the city's robust restaurant industry. Such is not the case anymore.

"We have six kitchens at the high school, and only one of which is working, and that's only been for the last few weeks," said Nan Shipley, chairwoman of the nonprofit group that supports the school.

The appliances worked fine as of June, but then, the school construction authority came in to make repairs that had nothing to do with the ovens. And when the school opened in September, nothing worked.

And nothing was done despite repeated and specific complaints, Kramer reported. After all, how can you send students into the kitchen to cook if the gas doesn't work.

"I'm really angry, because I think it's just simple bureaucracy, and it feels like they're punishing these 430 students who shouldn't be punished," Shipley said.

"It's sad. It's upsetting. It affects the students. It affects the teachers that we can't do what we planned to do," said student Shanice Clemente of East New York, Brooklyn.

"A lot of students transferred to this school -- the only culinary school that's inside New York City -- but there's no gas to even cook, so now a lot of students are really looking forward to transferring out of this school," another student told 1010 WINS' Al Jones.

One student said the problems mainly affect juniors and sophomores, because many seniors have internships and freshmen learn safety before the burners can be lit.

"It's like kindergarten all over. No horse-playing, no this, no that, do this, do that," he said. 

Kramer tried to demand answers, asking both Mayor Bill de Blasio and schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña how students can learn to cook if the stoves don't work.

De Blasio spokesman Austin Finan responded, saying: "(T)the principal and teachers have modified the curriculum to ensure students are learning the theoretical and academic components of culinary arts."

This means they read cookbooks and watch videos.

"Watching the video is different from actually doing the actual thing," said student Elio Alvarez of Queens. "It's not acceptable."

The Mayor's office also promised the appliances will be fixed within the month.

"I think that's a shameful answer, and that's four months late to help our students," Shipley said. "It's outrageous and unconscionable."

And in what Kramer said amounted to the icing on the cake, Fariña was at the school five weeks ago and she was served a box lunch. The reason, she said, was because a hot lunch was not possible.

Once the repairs are completed, the FDNY will have to make sure the gas lines pass inspection before actual cooking can begin again.