The Roslyn Board of Education voted on February 3 to present the voters of the Roslyn School District with a $23.9 million bond proposition which will fund renovations and additions to the Roslyn Middle School, interior renovations at the Heights School as well as capital projects throughout the school district. The voting date has been set for April 6.

The school district has been carefully monitoring enrollment trends for many years, and has held a series of public discussions about student enrollment and facilities modifications since 1998. The district's student population has grown by nearly 20 percent in the last ten years, with most of that growth at the elementary level. Since the early 1990s, the East Hills School has grown from 450 to more than 700 students, Harbor Hill from 430 to more than 520. Under current trends, these schools could reach 800 and 600 within a few years.

Dr. Frank A. Tassone, Superintendent of Schools, has recommended that grade 1 students who would attend the East Hills School be housed at the Heights School, beginning in September 2000. This arrangement was successfully implemented in the 1993-94 through 1995-96 schools years, while new classrooms were being constructed at the East Hills School. The changes proposed at Heights comprise interior renovations that will create an early childhood center and enable the district to provide the same programs to all the district's first graders.

As the comparatively large elementary classes now at East Hills and Harbor Hill Schools move up to the Roslyn Middle School, that school's enrollment will expand by 25 percent by 2002---from 620 students to 780. Unlike the relatively straightforward expansions of an elementary school, growth in a secondary school has an impact on the entire program in the building.

Even at the current level of enrollment, the impact of a growing student population is already being felt at the middle school. Because of the size of the cafeteria, for example, there are four lunch periods beginning as early as 10:30 and ending as late as 1:30 (the school day starts at 7:30). The school's 29 athletic teams already have practices scattered throughout the district. Science rooms will soon be unable to accommodate the laboratory science program for all students as it currently exists. This proposal addresses physical education, science, cafeteria and many other areas of instruction and support services.

Through extensive renovations and some additional construction at the Roslyn Middle School, the proposal will create grade level centers appropriate to the development of sixth, seventh and eighth grade youngsters, expand gymnasium and cafeteria space and create additional science rooms, regular classrooms and other instructional space.

Other capital projects being proposed under the bond include ventilation and electrical upgrades, boiler and window replacements, parking lot repairs. The upgrade of science labs at the high school that were not renovated during the last building program, as well as telephone/security systems, a wide-area computer network and other enhancements, address both program and safety concerns. Other items, such as track resurfacing, grandstand replacement and tennis court refurbishment, have long been requested by members of the community and also have an impact on the district's athletic programs.

School officials explain that New York State currently has a program whereby the state will reimburse the school district an additional 10 percent aid on all aidable projects approved before June 30, 2000. This amounts to a total of $5 million over the 20 years of the bond. In addition, the sale proceeds from the Village School will be applied to reduce the total amount of the bond by more than $1.6 million, from $25.5 million to $23.9 million. The estimated annual cost to the average homeowner will be $263.

Roslyn residents will receive correspondence from the school district with further information on all proposed projects in the coming weeks. The Superintendent welcomes invitations from civic groups or other organizations, provided the meetings are open to all residents, pursuant to the regulations of the Commissioner of Education. "I will be making public informational presentations throughout February and March to ensure that all of our school community's constituent groups are well informed about this proposal," Dr. Tassone said.

Questions about the bond proposition or voter information may be directed to the Superintendent's office at 625-6303. Those who have voted in the last four years do not need to register to vote in the bond referendum on April 6.