MWH Top Stories 2010: November/December
November
Blaze destroys brand-new school buses
The Malverne School District lost three new school buses and the use of its portable classrooms on Nov. 7 after a fire broke out and engulfed the recently purchased buses, which were in the parking lot of the Davison Avenue Intermediate School in Lynbrook.
Firefighters arrived at the school, at 49 Davison Ave., at 4:17 a.m. to find two buses in flames and third beginning to burn. Nearby portable classrooms, used for music classes, sustained heavy exterior damage and interior smoke damage, according to Superintendent Dr. James Hunderfund. It took Lynbrook and Nassau County firefighters some 90 minutes to extinguish the flames.
The district had purchased the buses in April to transport district students who attend three local parochial high schools.
While the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office was investigating the fire, the district received payments from its insurance company and replaced the buses within two weeks of the blaze.
Taxpayers approve $14.1 million school bond
Malverne taxpayers passed a $14.1 million education bond on Nov. 16, effectively approving Malverne school district's request to upgrade, repair and expand its two elementary school buildings and athletic facilities at the middle and high schools.
Some 1,200 voters came out that day to vote on the bond, which was presented to taxpayers as two separate propositions: Proposition 1, a $9.9 million bond for the elementary schools, and Proposition 2, a $4.2 million bond for the athletic facilities. Taxpayers approved Proposition 1 with 726 to 493 votes. Proposition 2 passed with 635 votes in favor to 481 votes against.
Following the approval, the district's next steps were to review and refine the architect's plans and work with staff at the Maurice W. Downing Primary and Davison Avenue Intermediary schools to ensure that all rooms would be properly designed and equipped according to need. At the end of November, once plans and details were finalized, the administration submitted paperwork to the state Department of Education and began a six-month waiting period.
December
