PTA proposes installing air-conditioning in Merrick

In an effort to make the learning experience in Merrick a little cooler, the co-president of the Birch School PTA, Segal Negrin, offered to purchase roughly 40 air-conditioning units as the PTA's "gift of school" during a Board of Education meeting last week.

Negrin estimated that each unit would cost around $150, resulting in a $7,000 total contribution.

Shari Weissbach, co-president of the Levy-Lakeside Elementary School PTA, said that her PTA also has the means to purchase air-conditioning units. A PTA representative from Chatterton was not present at the meeting.

While Board of Education trustees and administrators said they appreciated the proposal, many concerns arose regarding such an endeavor. Specifically, there was a question whether having air-conditioning units in one school would be fair to the others in the district. Negrin insisted that she "wants it to be fair for all three schools."

In addition, Dr. Rainer Melucci, the Merrick School District superintendent, raised concerns regarding who would pay for installation, electricity and repairs, as well as whether an architect would be needed to oversee installation.

Negrin's plan was to begin installing the air-conditioning units in September, continue in the fall and finish in the winter. She also said that the units should be placed in the classrooms only, as that is the place where the children spend the majority of their time at school.

No decision on the proposal was reached at the meeting.

Comments about this story? DWeingrad@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.