alexist

Article in today's Newsday about the new high school out in Manorville. $88M!!!

In case you can't be bothered to read the article, they got to build such an expensive school because 2 districts merged, and the state encouraged it by offering 90% of the costs of a new high school (legislators argued it would be cheaper than building 2 new schools). Eastport-South Manor (the district) is growing anyway (it's way out east) and they were going to need a new school. They've got 1,500 students (grades 7-12) in the new school now, and have a capacity of 2,200.

Still--$88M! (And 72 acres, and the mile walk to the football field....)

Meanwhile, Hempstead (perennially badly run district) has just had to close one of its elementary schools because the conditions are "beyond immediate repair". Apparently, they've known for 15 years that the building needs repairs, but never did it... and now closed it on the first day of the new year! The other 7 elementary schools in the district are already overcrowded. It's no wonder Hempstead parents find addresses in Baldwin (my district, to the south) to avoid sending their kids to Hempstead schools...