The Seaford School District is planning a letter-writing campaign with area lawmakers to try and obtain government funds for a long-planned emergency access road project at the Seaford Harbor School property.
Seaford Board of Education President Brian Fagan and Superintendent Brian Conboy said during Thursday night's school board meeting that they would draft a letter to be signed by the district as well as other community groups that will be sent to elected officials on a federal and local level. The letter will explain the dire need Seaford is in for the long-stalled emergency access and the particular importance of the project in wake of Superstorm Sandy. A referendum for the estimated $596,719 access road project, which would have be paid for by leftover funds from a capital improvements proposition approved in December 2007, failed by 238 votes in May 2010.
"What we just went through with the storm makes it all the more clear that this has to happen," said Conboy, who emphasized at Thursday's meeting that the district would not like to see residents' school taxes have to be utilized for the project if possible and is hopeful that federal and local funds will be made available for it. "It wouldn't only benefit the school district, it would benefit the whole Seaford Harbor community having another way out."
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An access road at the Seaford Harbor School, which would connect Bayview Street with Ionia Street through approximately 320 feet of open land just north of the school, has been in the works going back more than four decades. Parents have expressed concerns that it is challenging to get near the school during pick up and drop off periods since traffic is typically backed up down the block, with both buses and cars unable to move because of the high congestion level on the tiny road.
Nassau County is paving the way for the new access road by providing a little over an acre of land surrounding the property. The board of education accepted the findings of a State Environmental Review Act in February 2011 related to the project and at Thursday's meeting approved a contract with Hauppauge-based VHB Engineering to provide updated environmental permitting for a required Army Corps. of Engineers report.
Fagan said the timetable of when a potential new refernedum vote on the emergency access road project would take place has not been determined.
This IS needed NOW. before something happens whether it be storm related Cedar creek related, any emergency of ANY kind or some loon related. It is physically impossible to navigate anything to get on or out of that school save for a helicopter. GO see for yourself. It is NOT safe ... and is it getting worse. Voting no on kid safety issues is not something i would brag about. It is head hanging down hide your face in shame embarrassing.
but NOT at the expense of kids health safety and well being. Thats just so wrong on so many levels.
This is not a simple “lets put in a parking lot” project. This is going over wetlands and protected grounds. Surveys as well as a few different permits are required. There are also legal culpabilities as well. As to parents walking their kids…times have changed immensely...are you serious? Both parents work now...one or two jobs each. When we were growing up, most every mother was home. The way you remember it was LONG ago. Time to upgrade the thinking.
"I went to Seaford schools VL, did you, been living in the district for over 50 years. Yes, I think I am aware of this roadway, I voted NO. I exercise my freedom to vote, even though many don't, and the district is sure to hold open school nights the night of the vote. And no one enforces the 10 minute voting parking making it difficult for many to vote. If you reread the article you will see a line referring to parents find it challenging to get near the school to pick up and drop off their children. That would lead one to believe that this will be a public roadway, not an emergency one. If you are going to open it and close it so parents can pick up/drop off their kids, I don't see this as an emergency. Sandy would be, a sewer plant problem would be, probably a handful of times a year. Bottom line is local governments have tightened their belts and it is long overdue for the school district to do the same. I guess I'm not aware of previous postings because I don't post that often."
Whoopee. I have lived in this district for over 50 years as well. My family has been here over 60 years. So what? This issue has nothing to do with how long one has been a resident here. It is a matter of fixing an error of layout. Fixing the road would ease both problems (traffic and emergency). I am more concerned with the safety issues than for the time taken to drop off. But that is my opinion. Last night the board spoke of the possibility of approaching the “state/federal-powers-that-be” to fund the project (disaster prevention in such areas). Let us see what happens.
You "as to Ionia, it turns into South Cedar street which turns into cedar " Me "I was not aware that Ionia is a one way street, because as to your logic and FACTUAL information, it must be. Otherwise, if I am coming south on S Cedar, which turns into Cedar in the easterly direction, Cedar turns into Ionia." I never stated it was a one way, just gave you a lesson in direction, and geographical interpretation. Funny, only you didn't understand that. You ".Ionia terminates @ Island Channel" Me "According to my superior map reading skills, Island Channel ends at Bayview, and is not a through street to Cedar/Ionia/S Cedar" Your response........nothing, as usual, because as per your normal m/o, when proved wrong by fact, you ignore. You "you just made my point the ACCESS being proposed is NOT on IONIA it is on S CEDAR. It can turn into what ever it does but it is still not ionia street now is it " Me. Really? Your only retort is an extreme example of hair splitting? You "i was calling conboy out on stating the name of the street correctly " Me...Exactly. You "you just substanciated my remarks" Me....you still don't know how to spell. You have nothing other than that to offer, which is blatantly apparent to everyone who can read, or at least attempt to interpret what you write. I'll deal with the rest later, for sure, and you can count on that as being fact.
That being said,is the only problem you have with this article and proposal is that Mr Conboy misstated the name of the road that the new road will intersect? Because that seems yo be your biggest issue, because that rest is irrelevant.
. I am sure people have enough smarts to come to their own conclusions.
Lorraine, I find your rude manner/easy ability to speak uncivilly about "Mr." Conboy," (relative to the upper postings), unsettling and inappropriate. Relative to the condescending nonsense you type about Mr. Conboy and the board (on the Patch), and then stand in front of them [at a BOE meeting] acting all respectful and kind…really? What or who do you think you are…and what do you think you are accomplishing? In this day and age, you must strive act and speak civilly. To “stir the pot” for the sake of gaining unwarranted attention, merely draws out the unstable (we do not need another Newtown situation). You should endeavor to utilize your manner of approach and wording far more carefully. Side issue: I also find your intense personal and unwarranted bashing of “Patrick,” pretty low, even for your standards. The moment you mentioned his child, you WELL crossed the line. An apology is called for. Andrew, Why would you allow such disrespect [in print] for a man that you not only know, but also realize how hard he strives to do his job for this district? The “rules of engagement” should be rewritten and adhered to by all posters.
Let's try once again. You say "the money CAN be spent all at once - it simply MUST be used UP within a ten year period." What source have you used to make this difinitive statement? If the money from the sale can be used all at once, why would there be a 10 year stipulation? Why can't the District just put the money in the reserve with no restriction? I await your response to these simple questions, because, as usual, you are the expert.
HINT - try the nysed website
What should have been addressed sooner?- Duh the ROAD/access / driveway What plan did they impart in this article- urging people to write letters for funding? Thats the PLAN? then proceed with an engineering firm to work with the army corp of engineers. THEN what. Whats the REST of the plan? I stated very clearly i wasnt at the meeting and that i was going by the article. They have no funding, they have no costs estimates, So explain to me and everyone else WHATS THE PLAN? FOOLISH is assuming there is a definitive PLAN- this is in the STAGES to develop a plan but it is NOT a definitive PLAN. I would hope you would know the difference. And YES it makes a difference whether it is designated a ROAD or a driveway i would strongly suggest you look up the both in the dictionary they are TWO entirely different things. WHICH could reflect on whether or not funding is available or forthcoming and from whom. So go do your homework and then come back and once again try to prove me wrong by citing a complete logical step by step plan that includes costs, time frames, funding . and then cite how i ripped it apart.
1:51 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013 @ Valerie - I think you need a reality check- or a man- either one would serve you well. lmao. Andrew, I do not want this removed. I want the other people posting on the Patch to note the inherent lack of character and the obvious bullying nature of this “woman.”
You said "What should have been addressed sooner?- Duh the ROAD/access / driveway" Article says:"An access road at the Seaford Harbor School, which would connect Bayview Street with Ionia Street through approximately 320 feet of open land just north of the school" You say "What plan did they impart in this article- urging people to write letters for funding?" Article "Nassau County is paving the way for the new access road by providing a little over an acre of land surrounding the property" Also the article makes no reference urging people to write letters it says "Seaford Board of Education President Brian Fagan and Superintendent Brian Conboy said during Thursday night's school board meeting that they would draft a letter to be signed by the district as well as other community groups that will be sent to elected officials on a federal and local level" You "They have no funding, they have no costs estimates" Article "A referendum for the estimated $596,719 access road project, which would have be paid for by leftover funds from a capital improvements proposition approved in December 2007, failed by 238 votes in May 2010" You "this is in the STAGES to develop a plan but it is NOT a definitive PLAN" Me Not from what I read in the article. It looks as though the BOE has a plan in hand, just not implemented yet. This was all mixed in with your condecending remarks about me and my lack of knowledge, and stupidity, as usual. Shall I continue?