In a very long discussion regarding a bond vote to be presented to the residents in the next school board election which will take place in May of 2008, the main focus of the discussion at the last school board meeting was whether or not to air-condition the gyms, along with the cafeterias in all of the grammar schools, which would cost an additional $200,000.

Board president Christine Turner pointed out that the auditoriums at the Herricks Center, the high school and middle school would be air-conditioned, and perhaps some of the grammar school concerts and events could be held at these facilities.

She said, "My only concern with air-conditioning the gyms is that they are very large, with very high ceilings and I think it's going to be very difficult."

It was also pointed out by Trustee Peter Grisafi that ductwork was going into all of the gyms. He said, "I can only imagine that was done to improve the air circulation."

Herricks superintendent Dr. Jack Bierwirth said, "As with some of the other changes proposed I have mentioned my frustration that the state sat on the Energy Performance contract, and as a result we were not able to do that work this past summer so that we were not able to see what difference that made or didn't make. The Energy Performance contract will make a difference in the gyms and cafeteria and the duct work and the fans, but it is still not air conditioning, but it will make a difference."

One parent said that if the concern is not with the additional $200,000 the air conditioning will cost, but with the ongoing cost of running the system, "Why don't we just put it in and if it is too much just eliminate it," the parent said.

Another resident said she moved into the Manhasset Hills area of the Herricks School District paying taxes of $12,000, and now they are up to $23,000. She pointed out that paying that kind of tax, she would vote for the air conditioning because she said she would be "getting a little something for my money since I will have four children going to the school."

Trustee Richard Buckley said, "It's the people that are paying $23,000 that don't have children that's tough."

Many parents spoke - pointing out that during the summer months when the students were assembled in the gym, events were held that were not gym events and that the heat is so unbearable in some cases students actually passed out.

Trustee Peter Grisafi suggested that instead of calling it just a gym, it should be addressed as a gym/all purpose room or public assembly area since so many large events do take place in the gyms.

Trustee Richard Buckley said that as a teacher he could really understand the need for air-conditioning, and he said that in many cases it was next to impossible to try to teach students in severe heat conditions.

Debbie Beer commented that several years ago fans were installed in the high school cafeteria and it made a huge difference. She suggested perhaps installing fans in the elementary cafeterias and then air conditioning in the gyms/all purpose rooms. She said, "If you are going to air condition just one room, it should be the gym, since the gyms in the elementary schools are used as their auditoriums and that seems like a good compromise. Furthermore, you would use the air conditioning for gym classes, but only for large events."

Initially, a task force was formed to determine what capital projects were critical and they listed the following, which would be included in the proposed $7,799,110 bond:

1. Windows

2. Heating and ventilation including boilers and ductwork

3. Electrical-increased capacity, fire alarms and safety.

4. Roof and building repairs

5. Renovation of locker rooms

6. Renovation of the track

A long-range facilities project with a timeline and process

was handed out at the meeting and may be obtained at the superintendent's office.

The reason the district is proposing a bond this year is that the last bond debt is finished, but many projects are still necessary in the district, and the way this bond is proposed, the board said it will not increase the cost to the taxpayers.

However, the discussion went back to the air conditioning. The board wrestled with the proposal and then finally they all agreed to put the bond up, including the air conditioning in the all purpose/gyms of the elementary schools.

Trustee Buckley said, "I am out-numbered, so I guess I will go with it. However, I would like to say that it has to be planned when we are going to run this as it can't be run in the gyms all the time. That is my concern that it will cost more to run than the initial installation. I just feel like it's excessive. We are already air-conditioning three buildings, and adding six more buildings I think it's a lot."

Dr. Bierwirth added, "Let me just say that this air-conditioning will not be run by a thermostat, it will operate by a switch. Prior to its use there will be a decision as to when it will be turned on and off, when there will be large groups of people, which will impact the estimate of the cost."

The student representatives spoke up saying that most of the SAT, Regents and final exams are given in the high school gym and the heat during the tests is "unbearable." The statement added, "Those tests are responsible for getting into college."

Board president Turner wanted to know how much it would cost to install air-conditioning in the high school gym. She said, "Maybe we need to go back and look at all the facilites that could be air-conditioned according to use."

Bierwirth said he wasn't asked to research the cost of air-conditioning the high school gym, but added that he gladly could give the board that data.

Buckley added, "However, when and where does it stop, if we include the high school gym?"

Bierwirth said, "The problem here is timing, since the New York State Education Department took a year and a half to approve the Energy Performance Contract. Otherwise, we would be here saying it did make an improvement but not as much as we hoped but that won't happen until this winter and we will not be able to experience how it will be until after the vote. Then we will have to wait for another year to vote. It would have been ideal but it didn't happen that way."

Bierwirth said, "If the decision is not made tonight, then we should not make a decision until the January meeting. And, no decision has to be made at this meeting. But, it does need to be decided far enough in advance to advise the public what is involved."

Bierwirth added, "If we wanted to do this work during the summer of 2009, we need approval from community before the state education department will consider the plans. So, if the community approves the bond in the spring of 2008 and we ask our architects to submit plans in August of 2008, the earliest general fund budget we could put it into would be the budget of 2009 which would mean that the earliest we would be able to do it would be in the summer of 2009 altogether as one bundle. Or to do it in the summer of 2010. Again, the problem is not the community, it is not the board, but it is the state education department and their rules that do not allow you to submit plans in advance of the approval of the funds."

Buckley suggested cutting proposed items to make up the difference of the $200,000.

Bierwirth said, "Before we do that I would really like to sit down with the Herricks Director of Facilities Jim Brown so that he can give us his technical expertise. We did not weigh this out as to each building getting its piece. We did it on the basis of priority. Further, I felt that everyone knew it was on a basis of need."

Grisafi asked, "If we did what we said and the community votes to approve the $7.8 million and when we went out to bid we found out that the cost is actually $8 million could we make up the difference in the general fund budget?"

Bierwirth, "Yes, it is the kind of problem that communities face all the time when they do huge projects. In our case, we were very fortunate that we were $2 1/2 million under budget. About the only thing I would strongly recommend against is cutting corners."

Turner said, "So, I will put a motion on the table to approve the original facilities plan and to add the six extra facilities to the elementary schools for the bond issue."

It was approved and Dr. Bierwirth suggested that any further discussion about this issue would be held at the January 10 board meeting.

The board adjourned to executive session and the next board meeting will be held on January 10 at 7:15 p.m. at the Herricks Community Center, 999 Herricks Road, New Hyde Park.

Halfway through the last Herricks school board meeting the board took a break in order to meet with the students at the Herricks Middle School.

Much of the report was in the form of a "wish list" by the students to the board but the most extensive was from Ben Careleton and Laura Longman of the Middle School Buildings and Grounds Committee.

They mentioned the following :

• Lockers and ceilings in boys and girls locker rooms need to be replaced.

• The girls locker room also needs adequate lighting.

• The showers should be either reopened or removed to create more locker space.

• Temperature control or ventilation needs to be installed in the main gym.

• The outside fields are in need of repair. There are several problems that could result in injury. The game fields need to be crowned and seeded.

• The goalposts on the football field are not safe. If they were to give way, injury could result (rusted at the bottom).

• Far tennis court gate should be unlocked for easier entrance/exit.

• An additional tennis court should be added to the entrance/exit.

• Repaint and maintain the track.

• Water fountains need to be replaced. The old water fountains do not function.

• New garbage pails should be installed in more parts of the building and the old pails replaced.

• Clocks should be synchronized throughout the building.

• Have two hot food lines with one cold food line.

• Climate control should be updated, as temperatures can get very hot in the very beginning and end of the school year in the café, gym, classrooms in the new wing and auditorium.