By:LARRY MAIER
Camp Avenue parents call schoolyard equipment unsafe
For the past three years, Camp Avenue School students have been pooling their pennies to raise enough money for a new playground. Their efforts, combined with several PTA fundraisers and a state grant, have netted about $32,000, well short of the $90K parents say a new playground would cost.
Camp Avenue parents say the playground is not just outdated; it's outright dangerous. That's why dozens of parents filled the H.D. Fayette School Auditorium on Tuesday, Oct. 16 and asked the North Merrick School Board to help them fund a new playground.
Ironically, on the day of the school board meeting, a portion of the Camp Avenue playground was roped off for part of the school day because a child fell on a broken piece of equipment.
School-board members said that both they and Superintendent David Feller would visit the playground to assess its condition. The board stopped short, however, of saying whether the district would or could pay for or contribute to a new playground.
SH: Not a new concern
At the school-board meeting, several parents recalled that the poor condition of the playground was brought to the attention of the board last year. "And nothing was done," said Pat Nolan, a Camp Avenue parent.
Other parents questioned whether the playground is up to basic safety standards. Parents said that several children have been hurt recently because of the condition of the playground, but have elected not to sue the district. Parents also said that, in the past, school officials have told them that they cannot volunteer their labor to help construct a new playground because of liability issues.
While the school board as a whole said it wanted to look into the matter further and determine the playground's current needs before responding to parents, several board members indicated that they thought the district should share in the cost of replacing the playground.
"That's school equipment and it is the responsibility of this school district to replace that equipment," said Trustee John Pinto, who has a daughter at Camp Avenue School.
"I don't think that the PTA should have the sole responsibility of rebuilding the playground," added Trustee Jonathon Butler.
Wendy Gargiulo, a mother of a Camp Avenue first-grader, said that the playground has been a sore spot with parents for several years, but the large attendance at the recent board meeting showed that parents are more serious than ever about getting something done.
"This is the first time that a lot of people went to a meeting," said Gargiulo. "Usually the same two or three people go to every meeting."
Gargiulo said that she and many other parents who attended the meeting were satisfied that the board would give their request the consideration it deserves.
"I think the board realizes now how pressing this matter is," said Gargiulo. "I think we came out in force and they see that we're serious."
In an interview two days after the meeting, school-board President Dr. Matthew Kuschner said the board has instructed Feller to complete a physical assessment of the playground so they can report back to Camp Avenue parents at the Tuesday, Nov. 13 meeting.
According to Kuschner, the Old Mill Road and H.D. Fayette Elementary Schools have had their playgrounds replaced in last five years, while it's been about 10 years since Camp Avenue has received new equipment.
Kuschner said it is "premature" to discuss how a new playground would or could be funded. He also noted that if the school board allocated funds for a new playground, it might not be the exact playground parents are calling for.
"The board does not have to recognize that plan," said Kuschner, referring to the $90,000 playground proposed by parents. Upcoming capital improvements to school buildings and the expected fall-off of state aid because of the Sept. 11 tragedies make money especially tight in the district, Kuschner said.
Feller said the district would have "outside experts" look at the playground to make an assessment and prepare a report for the Nov. 13 meeting. He added that he was aware of efforts by Camp Avenue parents to renovate the playground but not that it was unsafe.
"That was the first I heard of stories about the playground being unsafe in its current condition," said Feller, who is serving his first year as the district's superintendent.
Gargiulo said she and other parents hope something can be done about the playground sooner as opposed to later.
"If it came next year, I would be happy," said Gargiulo. "But if it came this year, I would be a lot more happy."
