At a meeting of the Levittown Board of Education held on July 2, The Citizens Advisory Committee (C.A.C.) presented their 2001 Bond Issue Report to the board and community residents.

The report, which included recommendations to the board of education in regard to redistricting in order to provide additional high school space, full day kindergarten and other capital projects, was compiled by members of the C.A.C. after completing a ten-week study which included attending presentations and visitingother school settings.

Upon completing their studies and evaluations, the committee rendered that "there is no question that the Levittown School District considers a bond issue," and that the three recommendations mentioned in the report, in order of importance, should be taken into consideration when proposing a bond for resident approval.

Committee members presented the report on additional high school space and redistricting, stating they found that the district needs to establish provisions to meet the needs of a nine-period day and in order to do so, additional classroom space is necessary.

To accommodate student needs, the committee recommended that 12 additional classrooms be built. This figure was based on an average of 25 students per classroom. In order to make this option feasible, the committee stated that redistricting may be necessary. They added that there is an anticipated severe shortage of classroom space at MacArthur High School which must be addressed immediately.

In regard to full day kindergarten, committee members stated that the majority of the C.A.C. is in favor of the idea although they have some reservations about implementing the program in 2003. They stated they had feelings of uncertainty as to whether or not enough research has been done and community input received to create an educationally sound yet fiscally responsible program.

The committee recommended reopening Seaman Neck School as an elementary building, redistricting all elementary children to make room in each building for a full day program. Committee members stated that this would be the most viable option as the board deems that it would be in the best interest of the community to hold the full day kindergarten program in the elementary schools without undergoing construction.

In addition to opening Seaman Neck, the committee also suggested less favorable options such as building onto current elementary buildings and using Abbey Lane or Gardiners Avenue as a kindergarten center and redistricting grades one through five.

Committee members also presented recommendations for other capital projects, such as repairing the roof at Seaman Neck and replacing gym bleachers, ceilings and lockers at other schools. Members stated that such projects should not be included in a bond, but rather, should be covered under the regular school budget, pointing out that many of the projects are already included in the upcoming 2001-2002 budget.

They also stated that many of the projects stated should be taken care of as soon as possible but that most of them should be blanketed under the regular school budget. "We feel that the large increase in the general budget is going to make it difficult to pass any bond issue," the committee report read. "It was reality that guided our discussions and recommendation.

"It is time for accountability at all levels and it should be the responsibility of the administration to have a time line of projects with completion dates that the board of education makes sure to adhere to," the report concluded.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Herman Sirois recognized that the bond issue must be further discussed by the board and administrators and that a decision needs to be made in the near future.

"The committee worked long and hard in a short period of time," he said, adding that the board must discuss these issues as soon as possible. "A couple of major decisions must be made."

Sirois told board and committee members that the bond issue should be the main focus of the next board of education meeting, scheduled for July 18, adding that a final decision should be reached by August 22.

"We have to focus on getting our analysis done and [we should] set Aug. 22 as a date we can have our decisions ready," Sirois said.

Board and committee members agreed and further discussions are anticipated for July 18. In the meantime, members of the board will review the committee's recommendations in an attempt to find the most feasible solutions that would be in the best interest of the community.