Taking full advantage of the New York State EXCEL aid offered to each school, the Herricks school is moving ahead with its proposed facility projects.

Herricks Superintendent Dr. John Bierwirth said, "At the end of the last meeting at the Middle School we were asked to take another look at the project plan we presented. Therefore, Director of Facilities Jim Brown, Assistant Superintendent for Business, Helen Costigan and I sat down, and we are recommending that we keep the total amount of the proposed bond exactly the same. First, we take the air conditioning for the six rooms that we proposed and pay it out of the contingency budget; and second, the work that has already been done at the Middle School for the gym floor, we transfer that money to the paving and sidewalk jobs. It's still not enough but it helps.

"There was some discussion about payback in the different buildings, but our feeling is that the package represents a compromise. Different people have different priorities, and it really makes more sense to take the air conditioning money out of the contingency budget. It does leave us with virtually no contingency, but we are not going to run over the amount the community will authorize. The board will have to wrestle with the actual expenses when we receive bids further down the road. That is our recommendation. Not to add to the overall total and not to cut in order to accommodate this."

In other words, Dr. Bierwirth explained, the contingency is now $500,000 and $210,000 will be used for the air conditioning projects previously proposed The projects include the air conditioning for the cafeteria and gym at the Searingtown School, the air conditioning for the cafeteria and gym at the Denton Avenue School, the air conditioning for the cafeteria and gym at the Center Street School, and the air conditioning for the auditorium at the Herricks Community Center.

Dr. Bierwirth explained that if the board were to scale back the original proposed project to accommodate the six items, it would really be difficult to make the change. He said, "To scale back the size of a building, or to take a corner off of it. We are dealing with a long list of relatively small projects, most of which are straightforward. Yes, the prices of things could go up between now and the time we are going to do the projects. We have the ability to adjust."

Community Activist Tess Florentino wanted to know what happens if there is an emergency and the district needs the contingency monies. Dr. Bierwirth explained, "If we have a true emergency the district has legal access to its carry-over. Like we had with the gym. We then held a special hearing, and it was a matter of health and safety and we were allowed to take that money out of reserve. Plus, we have insurance. So we are covered."

Costigan added, "In the year '09-'10 we have two bonds that will be cleared up so that we will not be paying any extra. We will just be substituting this bond payment with that bond payment and there will be no increase to the taxpayer."

Proposed Projects

Searingtown School

A. Windows, replace windows in classrooms, all-purpose rooms, hallways and front entance-$292,015

B. Electrical-replace original electrical panels; add outlets; replace fire alarm panel-$140,700.

C. Boiler-replace two boilers; boiler controls-$301, 497

D. Roof -replace fascia-$14,000

E. Site work-install concrete steps to field-$6,860

(Taken out-HVAC fans, ductwork and air conditioning for cafeteria and gym-$145,000.)

Middle School

A. Reconstruct sinking concrete floors-two floor areas are sinking due to substructure problems-$59,500

B. Electrical-replace original electrical panels; upgrade fire alarm strobe units-$68,600.

C. Boilers-replace two boilers; boiler controls-$280,700.

D. Heating ventilation-fans and ductwork; air conditioning for auditorium, exhaust for kitchen-$131, 600.

E. Locker room-renovate locker room areas-$126,000

F. Parking/sidewalks-replace sidewalks; create additional parking-$152,550.

(Taken out-gym floor -recondition gym floor $20,000.)

High School

A. Windows-replace single pane and non-functioning windows; replace metal panels in gym with energy saving translucent panels-$1,245,700

B. Electrical-replace original electrical panels; add outlets-$179,200

C. Boiler-replace kitchen boiler-$112,161

D. Locker rooms-renovate locker rooms areas-$238,000

E. Hall lockers-replace original lockers-$105,000

F. Structural work-repair damaged columns, repointing-$70,000

G. Track-reconstruct track-$600,000

(Taken out-Heating/ventilation fans and ductwork, air conditioning for auditorium-$245,000.)

Denton Avenue School

A. Windows-Replace windows in classrooms, hallways and all-purpose room-$553, 419

B. Electrical-replace original electrical panels; add outlets; replace fire alarm panel, new master clock system-$186, 900.

C. Roof replacement fascia-$11, 200

D. Gym floor-replace-$52, 500

E. Fields-new backstops and goals-$30,000

(Taken out-HVAC fans, ductwork, and air conditioning for cafeteria and gym-$145,000.)

Community Center

A. Roof-re-roof peaked roof over auditorium-$399,000

B. Electrical-replace original electrical panels, add outlets-$40,600

C. Locker Room-renovate locker room area-$182, 000

D. Exterior-replace doors; renovate columns, repair stonework-$50,400

(Taken out-heating/ventilation fans and ductwork, air conditioning for auditorium; replace condensate pumps-$159, 800.)

Center Street

A. Windows-replace windows in classrooms, all-purpose rooms, hallways.

B. Electrical-replace original electrical panes; add outlets, replace fire alarm panel-$140, 700.

C. Sidewalks-replace curbs and repair walks-$16,000.

D. Roof-repair fascia-$12, 460

E. Gym floor-replace gym floor-$52,500.

(Taken out HVAC-fans, ductwork, and air conditioning for cafeteria and gym-$145,000.)

Shelter Rock Academy

A. Heating/ventilation-replace unit which provides air conditiong for basement.

B. Sidewalks-repair or replace curbing, walks, asphalt-$8, 680.

Cost of Draft Plan

Direct Costs-

Identified Projects-$6,979,110

Contingency-$290,000

Indirect Costs-

Legal, architectural, engineering

Bond counsel-$530,000

$7,799,110

Finance

Cost-$7, 799,110

Less EXCEL-$1,300,000

Less State Aid-$2,079,715

Net cost to Herricks-$4,419,395

Tri-State Review of World Languages from Grades 6-12

Lori Langer de Ramirez gave a detailed account of the visit her students had with the members of the Tri-State Consortium.

She presented her report on the SMARTBoard and it detailed the Tri-State Model which includes: Student Performance, Internal Support and External Support. She gave extensive examples of the commendations of the student performance; recommendations of the student performance; commendations of internal support and the recommendations of the internal support.

Langer de Ramirez said that the group would return in three or four years to evaluate the math and science program.

Two More Teams Named As Finalists in Lexus Challenge

Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Deirdre Hayes announced that two more teams have been named from Herricks for the Lexus and Scholastic Publishing Environmental Challenge. They are offering more than $1million in scholarships and grants to winners and consists of four competitions-land, water, air and climate. Herricks has finalists in both the air and water challenge.

The Air Challenge team is comprised of ninth graders Julie Chang, Tiffany Ip, Stacy Jacob, Shyam Venkateswara and Hannah Wang and is recognized as one of the top eight finalist teams in the nation.

Eight 10th grade honors research students, Nabil Ahmed, Stephen Chow, Abhay Goyal, Neil Kumar, David Park, Foram Parikh, Sajni Parikh and Stephanie Yang, were named as finalists in the Land Challenge.

Each of these teams, mentored by Richard Quan, has won a shared cash prize of $2,500 and now has the opportunity to compete in the final challenge in February. Final award winners will be announced at the end of April.

Previously, juniors Brian Groudan, Darren Huang, Vijay Raj, Lenny Wang and Senior Alex Yang were also announced as finalists in the Water Challenge.

Mini Grants Announced

Many Mini Grants were awarded to the faculty members funded through a grant from the Herricks Community Fund.

Board Accepts Scholarship from Chinese American Association

The board accepted a gift of two $500 scholarships for Herricks High School senior students graduating in June of '08 from the Chinese American Association of North Hempstead.

Cara Turner Donates Sofa to Shelter Rock Academy

Cara Turner, daughter of Herricks School Board President Christine Turner, donated a sofa to be used at the Shelter Rock Academy.

The next Herricks School Board meeting will be held on January 24 at the High School at 6:30 p.m. for the regular agenda. The board will meet with the high school students at 7:30 p.m. After that the regular agenda will resume.