By:Andrew Coen
The feasibility study will explore the possibility of a phased-in plan that would convert the Number One, Two and Five Schools from the current grades 1-5 into grades 1-6, turn the Number Six School in Woodmere into the new middle school and use the current middle school as the site for the high school. The high school would then be used for administrative offices and possibly leased space.
Before the board voted to approve the authorization, trustee Anthony Licatesi tried to convince the board to explore a study of an even bolder idea, of merging the Lawrence and neighboring Hewlett-Woodmere school districts together with Fitzsimons- suggested consolation plan.
I would hate to do the study and then come back and somebody says we should explore another idea and then another year goes by, said Licatesi after making the suggestion. School board president Frank Parise said he thinks the studies should be done separately, and the idea was dropped by Licatesi.
Hewlett-Woodmere school board president Richard Braverman said in a phone interview that as both a school board president and citizen he would not be in favor of any possible plan that involved merging the two school districts.
Some Number Six School parents showed up at the meeting to express concern over Fitzsimons- possible consolidation plan, even though it is only in the preliminary stages and they agree that some sort of consolidation is needed in the district. Lisa Manuel of North Woodmere, who has two sons in the second grade and a daughter in fifth grade at the Number Six School, said after the meeting that some consolidation is needed but that more options need to be researched. I think some consolidation is needed but they should be doing more than one study, said Manuel.
Flora Chen, who has three children in the district attending the Number Four School, Number Six School and Lawrence Middle School, also thinks more possibilities need to be explored. I think there are other ways of doing this, said Chen.
MaryAnne Seamon, who has two children at the Number Six School and one at the middle school, is worried about the disruption it would cause the students if the plan were to be phased in beginning next year. Something obviously has to be done but it should come with the least disruption, said Seamon.
Seamon also disagreed with Fitzsimons- claim that part of the reason to study the plan is because of the poor conditions of the current high school on Reilly Road in Cedarhurst. Because of one building in disrepair, you-re going to put a whole district in disrepair? she said.
Seamon said a study should also be done regarding the possibility of closing the Number Five School, which was recommended last year but never approved after students and parents at the Cedarhurst school expressed outrage. However, she agreed that it was best not to combine the consolidation feasibility study with possibly merging Districts 14 and 15. I think they are separate and is never going to occur, she said.
In a letter addressed to Fitzsimons, Manuel expressed support for moving students at the Number Five School to the Number Six School and using the Cedarhurst elementary school for either an administrative building, BOCES or a library.
I would ask the board, as well as the Number Five School parents, look at the big picture, Manuel-s letter stated. Those students can easily be bused to Number Six. Number Six is newer and has better facilities. I can-t imagine why the parents of Number Five School would oppose the plan.
In addition to concern from parents at the Number Six School, opposition is mounting over the possibility of the high school moving to the current middle school. Residents in the surrounding neighborhood, in the Village of Lawrence, have expressed traffic and parking concerns, according to village trustee Martin Oliner. Oliner and Fitzsimons met to discuss the concerns just before the Feb. 10 meeting.
I think the people in Woodmere and in this district will see that in the long run that this will benefit them, said Fitzsimons in response to concerns from district residents in Woodmere and the Village of Lawrence.
At the beginning of the Feb. 10 meeting, the superintendent explained some of the reasons for considering the plan. The status quo just does not work anymore, he said. We can-t continue to operate the schools the way we-ve been operating them.
Fitzsimons said the reasons for studying the plan are lower enrollment projections, favorable school capacities and a potential significant reduction in capital projects. The bulk of these capital projects from last year-s bond are at the current high school, said Fitzsimons.
The superintendent said the goals of the consolidation plan are to enhance the quality of instruction and utilize space more efficiently.
Fitzsimons said that the elements of the study will include input from instructional programs, enrollment projections, school capacities, capital improvements, transportation, site improvements, building modifications, staffing requirements, general operating costs and a timeline. After the study is completed, the superintendent said he will look to see if the quality of instruction will be improved, if the space will be used more efficiently and whether operating costs will be significantly reduced.
The next Lawrence school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Lawrence Middle School.
