By Samuel Glasser
When the 8,500 students in the Sewanhaka Central High School District return to class on Sept. 6, they will step into facilities that are brand new or have undergone extensive renovations.
Superintendent Ralph Ferrie gave an update of the substantially completed projects to the district’s school board Tuesday night. The work is being done under the district’s $86.6 million capital improvements package, funded by a bond voters approved in 2014.
The construction at each school includes new lighting, heating and ventilation systems and water fountains. The new rooftop solar panels at each school will supply 30 to 35 percent of the district’s electricity consumption.
The district also said Wednesday that all five school buildings have received an “Energy Star” certification from the Environmental Protection Agency, meaning they use 35 percent less energy, produce 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions and are cheaper to operate.
The new gym at Elmont Memorial High School is finished, along with new locker rooms, a weight room and wrestling facility. Renovations to the library and art room have been completed. The facilities will be dedicated on Sept. 16.
The new auditorium at Floral Park Memorial High School should be completed by the Christmas recess.
H. Frank Carey High School has been converted to a natural gas system and a new gym floor was installed. The school’s new auditorium went into service during the last school year.
The guidance offices at New Hyde Park Memorial High School have also been renovated.
Ferrie said the district’s contractor promised that the new addition at Sewanhaka High School will be ready for the start of the school year. The project consists of a new cafeteria, gymnasium, locker rooms and weight rooms, culinary arts classroom and board room. A dedication is planned for Sept. 23, he said.
Ferrie said the contractors should be finished and out by January.
It was also noted at the meeting that the district will enable 10th graders to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, or PSAT, in the spring at no cost.
Regina Agrusa, assistant superintendent for pupil personnel, said the test is an indicator of a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The scores do not go on a student’s transcript, but the test gives the students a familiarity with the senior year Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) that is used for college admissions. Students can take the PSAT again in 11th grade as further preparation for the SAT.
“The earlier you expose the kids to the PSAT, they will start thinking of college and will get familiar with the format and the process of taking a timed test,” she said. “It’s all a matter of practice, practice, practice.”
Agrusa also said 10th-graders who sign up for the PSAT will be given an online account with Khan Academy for its SAT preparatory course at no cost to the district or the students.
Ferrie noted that under the district’s technology initiative, every student in grades seven through 10 will have a district-issued iPad for the coming school year. By the 2018-2019 year all students will have the device, he said.
Ferrie said that New Hyde Park Memorial High would be the home to a pilot program using an in-school robot to bring classroom instruction to a home-bound student on extended medical leave. He commended the “five courageous teachers” who were willing to participate in the venture.
Ferrie also said that the district was “well into the search process” to select a new principal for Floral Park Memorial.
Principal Kathleen Sottile was named assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, replacing Cheryl Champ, who was named schools superintendent in the Pelham school district.
