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Friday, October 27, 2023
Vol. 83, No. 42
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A Condo Spec ia with a Proven list Track Record
Judy Fruitbine
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Seniors create composting program
Syosset Board discusses options for historic school BY RIKKI MASSAND
The Town of Oyster Bay honored two students, Emily Su and Riddhi Jain, both seniors at Syosset High School, for establishing a backyard composting program. BY GARY SIMEONE Two senior students at Syosset High School initiated a composting program in their town earlier this year. Emily Su and Riddhi Jain established a backyard composting program in partnership with the Town of Oyster Bay’s Department of Environmental Resources. Their initiative earned them accolades from Town officials as well as a citation for their diligent efforts. “In the Town of Oyster Bay, we pride ourselves on being stewards of the envi-
ronment, and seeing young bright minds like Emily and Riddhi continue to carry that sentiment on to the next generation makes us even more proud,” said TownSupervisor, Joseph Saladino. Jain said she came up with the idea for the backyard composting project after a family vacation to California last year. “When we were there I noticed people putting out garbage, recycling as well as composting bins,” said Jain. “It’s a requirement in the State of California. When I returned home, I reached
out to the Town about implementing such a program. I found out that it hasn’t been done because of lack of space, and people not wanting to live near a compost pile.” Both she and Su followed up with their school superintendent, Dr. Thomas Rogers, about putting together an email blast to members of the community about a composting program. “In less than a day we received two hundred responses from people who were interested in participating in the program,” said See page 10
The Jericho Syosset News Journal is published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801Telephone 931-0012 - USPS 3467-68 Postmaster: Send Address Change to: The Syosset Jericho News Journal, 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530 • Meg Norris Publisher
The Syosset Central School District has engaged professionals to address a coming “bubble” of student enrollment which is currently in the elementary and early middle school grades. The Board is considering how to expand and equip the district’s school buildings to meet the needs of this cohort of students. During a special district meeting on Wednesday October 18th, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Thomas Rogers presented an overview of the considerations for use of the 100-year-old Woodbury School, a historic former schoolhouse building at the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Woodbury Road. Preliminary estimates for an adaptive reuse of the Woodbury School are that it will cost between $12 million and $15 million, and might require conformance to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for historic preservation work.
District’s facilities considerations
At the meeting School Board President Carol Cheng said, “The board began discussion on district facilities a couple of months ago and we’ve been doing a lot of that in the past few meetings. The schools’ administration, our architects and construction management firm has been presenting us with a lot of information to allow the board to make decisions. Today we’re framing the information and questions around a few items that we need to give guidance to central administration on.”
“The board has to decide whether we’re going on a seven or 10-year cycle for facilities projects. Second, we want to consider projects for two elementary schools – Walt Whitman and Berry Hill, and how expensive do we want to do those. Third is how we want to proceed with the Woodbury School, and the building has been sitting there vacant for all the years I can remember,” she explained. The Board is also considering building whether to build a new track at Harry B. Thompson Middle School, or add additional gym space at Syosset High School, to allow for the enrollment bubble that will be coming. Board President Cheng noted, “The next potential facilities planning is on how much we want to do aside from what the district already has.” Over the first six weeks of this school year the district reviewed the Woodbury School’s structural and site conditions after Board of Education members queried the superintendent and administration about the building. The amount of usable space currently in the building and on its grounds were key to the previous conversations. A few weeks ago, suggestions ranged from Universal Pre-K and early childhood education use to physical education or a place for indoor sports teams to practice, and as a venue for driver’s education, community enrichment or adult education courses. Dr. Rogers said from comments at the prior meetings, everyone on See page 10
Jericho Schools named best PAGE 4 Generals charge to victory PAGE 6