Safety, Security and STEAM Enhanced at I.P. Schools

Island Park Public Schools have several enhancements in place when doors open on Sept. 6. Facility and technology upgrades, safety and security system improvements, and instructional enhancements were all put into place over the summer.

New lockers were installed in the hallways of Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School, where a classroom was refitted to provide handicap accessibility. The track and basketball areas, unveiled last year, will be officially opened in early fall now that blacktop has been repaired and select areas, still under warranty are to be repainted.

At Lincoln Orens Middle School, new interior staircase railings were designed and will be replaced as part of a refurbishment plan.

Security upgrades include the installation of panic buttons throughout the district, as well as the Night Hawks 24/7 surveillance program. This program provides secured cameras throughout school grounds to watch people who visit during off-hours. The system will enable central station monitors to speak directly to those on school property and call police officers if needed. It will also save the district costs associated with paying custodial staff or security guards overtime.

The district has received nearly all reimbursements for the repair work required after Hurricane Sandy, which totaled approximately $12 million and expects to receive the final $1 million this fall. Debt service payment for the 1995 bond for maintenance projects will end during the summer of 2017. A new bond is under consideration to address aging roofs, science labs, art rooms and other facilities.

One of the most exciting additions that the district looks forward to is the introduction of a zSpace lab at the middle school in September. Island Park is one of only four Long Island school districts to have been awarded grants last spring for technology initiatives through the Smart Schools Bond Act. The Smart Schools grant fully funds this innovative, 3-D virtual reality lab that will provide students with opportunities to explore activities and lessons related to science, technology, engineering, visual art, and math. With the use of 3-D glasses and zSpace tools, students will experience STEAM education in a hands-on, real-world problem-solving manner that brings these subjects to life. Also included will be a 3-D printer.