After years of being abandoned, the Alva T. Stanforth Junior High School, located on Hempstead Turnpike in Elmont, was finally demolished. Construction has begun on the new Elmont Public Library on the site.

For years, ATS, as it came to be known, had been a source of controversy. Since its closure in 1985, a use for ATS could never be agreed upon until early 2004.

There was a failed attempt by the Elmont School District to purchase the school from the Sewanhaka Central High School District and reopen it. However, that deal fell through. Then there was the proposal by the organization People for the Preservation of ATS (PPATS) to open again as a school. However, that proposal was not received well by the Sewanhaka Central High School District Board of Education. There was even a proposal to sell the site commercially that was defeated.

Still, for years the site remained and deteriorated as taxpayers were paying for minimal upkeep and insurance. One of the reasons is because the Sewanhaka Central High School District is comprised of four communities - Elmont, Franklin Square, New Hyde Park and Floral Park. Since the district owned the building and the site, all four communities had to come to an agreement on what to do with it.

Then in late 2003, a proposal was made by the Elmont Public Library to purchase part of the site. In early 2004, two referendums passed - one to sell ATS to the library and another for the community of Elmont to have a new library built on the site. The rest is history, as is the ATS building, which was demolished.

Construction has now begun on the new Elmont Library. The Elmont Library Board of Trustees, which was responsible for presenting the plan for a new library to the public successfully, awarded 11 separate construction bids.

Business manager for the library Frank Marino said footings and foundations for the building are going in. Construction is scheduled to take place over the next 12 months. Then there should be a two-week moving in period so residents could be enjoying their new library by the end of next summer.

For those who have a nostalgic connection to ATS, the ATS auditorium was preserved. It will be restored and located inside the new library building. Various uses can be found for it such as it can be used by a theater group.

"Everything is pretty much on schedule and according to plan. Hopefully, there are no surprises," said Marino.