Nassau County residents are asked to participate in a public vote that would authorize Nassau BOCES to purchase the Jerusalem Avenue School for $12 million. Nassau BOCES has leased the school from the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District since 1998, incurring an annual rental expense that was charged to all 56 component districts. Owning the building will eliminate that expense of $1.4 million in the 2018-19 school year and in all subsequent years. The special vote will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018.
The school serves nearly 350 students in two special education programs—the Jerusalem Avenue Elementary Program and the Children’s Readiness Center. These students have a range of learning, behavioral and developmental disabilities, and need more services than can be provided in a local school district.
If Nassau BOCES receives approval to purchase the Jerusalem Avenue School, all Nassau County school districts will benefit financially. The purchase of the building eliminates the annual rental expense that is included in the Administrative Charges shared by all 56 Nassau County school districts. The $12 million cost of the building will be recovered in approximately nine years. Overall, the Nassau BOCES strategy of owning buildings rather than renting them has saved Nassau County taxpayers millions of tax dollars.
If approved, the purchase will be made with funds in the Nassau BOCES Capital Fund that have been set aside specifically for this purpose. No borrowing or debt service expense will be incurred so the impact of the savings will be immediate.
The vote is open to all Nassau County residents who meet the following criteria: They are a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older and have been a resident of Nassau BOCES’ service area for at least 30 days. Voters may vote at one of eight polling locations:
Carman Road School
1 Carmans Road, Massapequa Park, NY 11762
Center for Community Adjustment Rosemary Kennedy Center
2850 North Jerusalem Road, Wantagh, NY 11793
George Farber Administrative Center
71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530
Iris Wolfson High School
21 Chestnut Street, Greenvale, NY 11548
Jerusalem Avenue School
2351 Jerusalem Avenue, North Bellmore, NY 11710
Joseph M. Barry Career & Technical Education Center
1196 Prospect Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
Long Island High School for the Arts
239 Cold Spring Road, Syosset, NY 11791
Robert E. Lupinskie Center for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology
One Merrick Avenue, Westbury, NY 11590
The polls will be open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. At that time, the doors will close, but any eligible Nassau County residents already in line will be permitted to vote. Absentee ballots are available. If you want an absentee ballot to be mailed to you, your application must be received by the Nassau BOCES District Clerk by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. If you plan to pick up an absentee ballot in person, you may do so until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
The District Clerk’s office is located at the Nassau BOCES George Farber Administrative Center, 71 Clinton Road, Garden City, NY 11530-9195. All absentee ballots must be received by the Nassau BOCES District Clerk by 4 p.m. on Feb. 8.
For more information, visit www.nassauboces.org.
