Last year, Nassau BOCES closed its special education preschool program at the Geneva N. Gallow Elementary School on Farmedge Road. Although the Gallow School has been closed to Island Trees students for over twenty years, the BOCES lease has been a significant revenue stream for our district. In fact, not only did it offset the maintenance expenses for the entire Farmedge property, but it also helped fund our own district programs.
In response, the district searched for a new tenant for the Gallow School. Unfortunately, we were unable to find a new occupant for the building. Without a tenant, the Gallow School has become a financial burden for the school district, as well as a target of vandals.
Given the financial concerns, the district appointed a real estate firm, Oxford and Simpson, to seek bids for an alternate use of the property. Other school districts have sold similar properties for a significant financial gain to the community, and fittingly, added a new property tax base to help maintain student programs and services.
At this time, the District has received a number of development offers. However, one proposal seems to provide the best value and serve the best interests of our school community. We hope to share this proposal at the upcoming public meeting on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, 7:30 p.m., in the Island Trees High School auditorium.
