By Stephanie Petrellese

The Garden City Board of Education focused its attention once again on the bond being considered to fund capital improvements in the district during an April 7th work session. Architect Roger P. Smith from Burton, Behrendt and Smith, a Long Island-based, multi-discipline architectural and engineering firm specializing in educational design, was on hand to answer questions from the Board related to the program-driven projects proposed for Homestead School, Garden City Middle School and Garden City High School.

BBS originally presented the district's ad hoc facilities committee with a total of $45.19 million for all facility and program-driven projects, which would cost the average homeowner $210.84.

The committee, which was formed last March to study the possibility of issuing a bond, told BBS that the district would not likely be able to accomplish all of the recommended projects and asked that they develop a plan that focused solely on building needs that would require the public to vote on a bond that totaled no more than $20 million.

BBS came back with a revised total of $19.76 million. An "average homeowner," who is defined as someone with a home assessed at $2,330, would be required to pay an additional $163.85 if the bond is approved.

Administrators met with Smith to determine what smaller-scale projects could be included in the annual capital budget as opposed to a bond initiative. The district was able to reduce the recommendations of the ad hoc Committee on Facilities by $837,000. The bond amount was therefore lowered to $18,918,800.

The original $45.19 million bond amount included both facility and spatial, or program-driven, projects. After they separated the $19.76 million for facility projects, the firm split the $25,432,418 they allocated for the district's spatial needs into two clusters.

The district's spatial projects are not needed due to a substantial projected increase in enrollment. Rather, they are desired due to a marked increase in educational programs offered by the district.

Cluster A totals $17.64 million and includes Homestead School additions and alterations to create a multi-use art, music and library space. Renovations at the Middle School would include adding a gymnasium, reconfiguring the parking lots and renovating the south gymnasium for other purposes. Cluster B totals $7.79 million and focuses on interior reconstruction projects and a new music wing at the high school, which would free up other interior spaces.

School Board Vice President Barbara Trapasso admitted that when she was first presented with the varying bond amounts, she supported the $19 million to solely cover health and safety issues, and was skeptical of the need for a new gym at the middle school and a music wing at the high school. Realizing that many other residents would likely feel the same way given the recession, she anticipated the arguments the Board should expect. Some would say the district shouldn't focus any more time and money on their athletic program by building a new gym, and when it comes to the music department, the district already has a top-notch program and is apparently able to deal with the current building configuration.

However, Trapasso called upon residents to learn about what difficulties administrators face after hearing from Middle School Principal Peter Osroff, Ed.D. and High School Principal Nanine Cuttitta and Assistant Principal David Perrotta. "I think if the public were to hear what everybody is saying, it almost seems very, very important to do this as well....I think a lot of people don't realize what goes on in these buildings," she said.

Yes, administrators are trying to do the best they can with the current building space configuration, but in many cases it is not even close to an optimum learning environment. At the high school, a large closet was converted into a room which was divided into three, and is currently used for reading instruction, speech and a psychologist's office. There are no windows and little ventilation.

"Everybody's indoors, everybody's in a classroom, but the support services are being delivered in hallways, in unventilated rooms, in areas with per-square footage that doesn't conform to what the state, or reason, would have us do," explained Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen.

The stage is used every day as the music classroom. In the fall and spring when the drama department is staging their theatrical productions, all instruments must be relocated to the library. This disrupts students who need to use the library's resources.

Dr. Osroff listed several areas that administrators have reclaimed at the middle school: a former wrestling room has been converted into two classrooms; a storage room is now used as a fitness center; two large technology rooms have been subdivided to add two additional classrooms; an art closet has been converted into a room for English as a Second Language instruction and a part-time psychologist's office; three bathrooms have been converted to a world language office, a teacher work room, and a Committee on Special Education meeting room and psychologist's office; a small conference room is now use as a resource room; a dean's office is now a testing room; two closets have been converted into an extended-time testing room and a guidance coordinator office; a storage room has been converted into a grades 6 through 12 curriculum coordinator office; and what was at one time a full-time psychologist's office is now used as a parent-teacher conference room.

Jim Kearney, who serves as chairperson of the district's ad hoc Committee on Facilities, said he also initially struggled with the proposed gym. However, after discussions with Smith, Kearney said "it really made the most sense to me."

"From a cost basis, you're getting a lot of programs and a lot of bang for your dollar," Kearney explained, especially with today's record low interest rates and a plethora of project-hungry contractors. "We're trying to provide solutions to the buildings, as opposed to individual projects. Just like the music wing is the lynchpin that allows all of this other work, the gym in the Middle School allows everything else to work. Because, take that away and you can't address the other issues without then building foundations, building more footprint."

Smith, who admitted that his firm would naturally like the district to move forward with all of the proposed projects, said that at some point the spatial needs will have to be addressed. "Without changing those music spaces at the high school, you will always have not enough and inadequate spaces," he said.

The last time the school district sought public approval for a capital improvement bond was in 1998. The bond totaled $37,856,000. School Board President Colleen Foley said the buildings were in deplorable condition and the bond was needed just to deal with the health and safety issues. Program-driven needs were not included.

"It's hard to see the health and safety issues are still here, and in such a big number," she commented. One of the top items included in the roughly $19 million bond is a new roof at the high school, which is badly needed due to leaking. Water damage is also a problem at Locust School. The bond would cover repairs to stop the flooding, which is occurring because the land slopes down toward the building. Other high-priority items which may be covered include an elevator in the administration building to make it more compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and new bleachers and a press box at the high school. The bond may also be enough to cover steel window lintels at Stewart and Stratford, and new exterior doors and windows at Homestead and Locust. Masonry repair at the bus garage may also be included

Kearney responded that buildings naturally deteriorate as they age. Nothing that was included in the 1998 bond is being redone in this year's proposed bond.

Ideally, Smith would like to see the Board develop a bond scope by its regular meeting on April 21, which would determine the appropriate review path to follow under the State Environmental Quality Review Act. Smith tentatively set August 18th as the date the Board should, if they choose to do so, adopt a bond resolution and set a referendum date. The referendum date must be set at least 45 days ahead of time. Smith recommended a referendum be held in October, which he said is the month when many districts prefer to hold such a vote because it gives them time to educate the public and allow for schools to settle down after opening in September.