Nassau County residents approved Nassau BOCES’ purchase of the Jerusalem Avenue building in North Bellmore by a vote of 2,225 to 254 last Thursday, according to a Nassau BOCES news release.
The votes are unofficial until approved by the agency’s board at the Feb. 26 meeting.
BOCES purchased the building for $12 million, with funds from the Nassau BOCES Capital plan put aside for this purpose, according to the release.
BOCES has been leasing the building, used to serve 350 students in two special education programs, from the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District since 1998, according to the release.
The annual rent expense was charged to 56 component districts; owning the building eliminates the $1.4 million expense for the current school year and years to follow, according to the release.
“We would like to thank everyone who participated in this vote,” said Robert R. Dillon, Nassau BOCES Superintendent. “Our purchase of the Jerusalem Avenue School will provide long-term savings for our local school districts.”
The $12 million used to purchase the building will be made up in approximately nine years, according to the release.
