School briefs

School bond

At the Nov. 17 Board of Education meeting, residents had another opportunity to comment on the proposed $ 31.8 million bond for renovations to South Side High School, scheduled for a Dec. 17 vote.

But before opening up the floor, board members articulated and unanimously agreed on several construction priorities — the potential relocation of the softball field; a conduit for lights; the installation of synthetic turf within the track on the main field; and lighting for that field. There was no decision about the potential installation of artificial turf on the practice field. Board members discussed, but did not decide on the number of bleachers to be included in the project. A wind turbine, which could be part of an energy performance contract, has yet to undergo a feasibility study.

Several district residents who live near the high school took the opportunity to castigate the board again for what they contend is an ill-timed venture that is “inconsiderate to the neighbors.” Among their comments were that the artificial turf field (which they say is toxic), along with the lights, would create an environment that could “encourage students to engage in drug, alcohol and gang-related activities." In response, board president Mark Masin reminded them that the district had adopted a rather strict policy on when the lights would be in use..

Several other speakers asked the board if it would be possible to get rid of specific portable classrooms as soon as possible and another asked who could condemn them.

Village cooperative agreement

Superintendent Dr. William Johnson said that during a recent meeting he had with village representatives, there was discussion, which will continue, about sharing services, recreation and the use of fields. Johnson said he was told that the village will, for the first time, charge the school district for garbage collection. Board members expressed disappointment, calling it “very unfortunate.“ Johnson said the district will seek bids from private carters, which he estimated would come in lower than the village fee of $39,000 for the service next year.

But a village spokesman said the village board of trustees has yet to determine the exact rate the school district will be charged.

H1N1 vaccine update

The school district has received a small amount of H1N1 vaccine — about 300 doses — and is continuing to work out the details for its distribution with the Nassau County Dept. of Health. According to Eileen Kamhi, assistant superintendent for student services, the district received a memo last Friday from both the New York State Education Department and the New York State Dept. of Health establishing a procedure for schools, working with their local health departments, to set up school-based vaccination clinics to distribute the vaccine. Kamhi expects that doses of the vaccine will be available from the school district within the next few weeks.