The Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education moved a step closer to resolving the abandoned Alva T. Stanforth (ATS) building and its surrounding property when it passed a resolution to keep the 20 acres of property and develop it all for athletic fields, meaning the former junior high school would be torn down. The plan would have to be approved by voters of the district, which includes residents of Elmont, Franklin Square, Floral Park and New Hyde Park, through a referendum. Sewanhaka School Board President Martin Cernese said it is unlikely the plan would go out to a referendum before the budget vote in May.

With two members on the board representing each of the four communities in the district, it has been difficult to come up with a solution for the property. However, at a board of education meeting on Wednesday, most of the board members agreed to keep the property since its athletic fields are being used by the district.

Dr. Roger Roess, a board member from Franklin Square, expressed his desire to keep some of the property for athletic fields needed by the district and sell the rest of the property commercially. However, Dr. Roess conceded that a plan to sell any of the property would never pass through a referendum. "There are no proposals that would pass because the four communities are not of a single mind," he said.

Feeling that the four communities of the district would never agree on a proposal, Dr. Roess made the motion for the district to retain the property and enter into a process by which the school building would be torn down and the whole property would be developed for athletic fields and facilities.

Dr. Roess' motion was supported by Floral Park board members Archie Cheng, who seconded the motion, and Robert Burke. The building, however, has emotional value to some members of the Elmont community who still desire to see the building or part of the building used for educational purposes. However, the majority of the board does not share that view. "We have been told by our administrators that this building is not now and will not be needed in the future for educational purposes," Burke said. "Let's keep the entire property. Let's knock the building down. We're losing nothing. If 10 years or 20 years from now, we need to build a school for our children, we have the property."

When it came time to vote, the resolution passed 5-3 as Dr. Roess, Cheng, Burke, Cernese and new board member Patricia Rudd voted in favor of keeping the property and moving ahead with plans to tear the building down and develop the whole property for athletic fields.

Board member Jean Fichtl of Franklin Square voted against the resolution as she was in favor of keeping the majority of the property for athletic fields and selling whatever isn't needed commercially to bring in some revenue to the district.

Elmont board members Deanna Doreson and Aubrey Phillips also voted against the resolution. Both Doreson and Phillips were in favor of keeping the entire property, but using a portion for athletic fields and a portion for something that would benefit the Sewanhaka community. A plan for an expanded Elmont Public Library on the site had previously been discussed.

Both Phillips and Doreson said the fields at the ATS site were more than adequate. Doreson said, in addition to the necessary playing fields, she was in favor of something that could be used by parents and students. Phillips said he favored an institution that would give all members of the district both educational and social stimulation and views the front portion of the property to have a substantial and functional use.

Despite the Elmont board members' pleas, it appears the district will go ahead with the majority of the board's proposal to knock down the building and develop the whole site for athletic fields. However, Elmont residents will still have a say when it comes down to voting for or against the referendum.