Officials: New student pick-up policy could require more parking

With unforeseen savings from employees’ health insurance, four of the North Bellmore School District’s buildings might get expanded parking lots this coming fall. The proposition presented to the Board of Education at Thursday night’s meeting is meant to alleviate traffic flow problems associated with student drop-off and pick-ups, especially with increased enrollment at Saw Mill and Dinkelmeyer owing to the closing of Gunther School this June.

The proposed parking extensions, which the board will review and decide on at a later date, are in conjunction with a new pick-up policy that will be in place at the start of the 2012-13 school year. Beginning in September, parents or designated guardians will be required to pick up their children at various exits from each of the five elementary schools. Students designated as walkers will still be able to walk home. With a larger population at Saw Mill and Dinkelmeyer schools, officials believe the new policy will provide a safer atmosphere at all of the buildings. “This will avoid, we think, some dangerous situations,” Superintendent Arnold Goldstein said.

The project could cost upward of $119,000; the money will come from the 2011-2012 budget. At Dinkelmeyer, the district would look to turn the blacktop off Decatur Avenue into parking space. The additional parking would create 54 spots. At Martin Avenue School, additional parking would be created off a parking lot adjacent to the district offices, creating 28 spaces. At both Dinkelmeyer and Martin Avenue, the proposed areas already have blacktop in place.

At Newbridge Road School, the district would look to expand the parking by putting blacktop down near the hockey rink on Bellmore Avenue; this would create 46 spots. At Saw Mill, the district would look to fill in space between the current parking lot and blacktop at the rear of the building, adding 70 spaces. Doing so would require the district to remove a swing set and small play area. However, a new swing set and play area would be added elsewhere on the grounds, Goldstein assured parents. “The kids will not lose any of what they have,” he said.