In an effort to create a safer environment for students, the Massapequa Board of Education unanimously decided to close the Unqua-Berner bike path at a school board meeting on Jan. 15. The board also decided to disassemble the bridge that runs behind residential areas and connects the Unqua and Berner Schools.
“The bottom line is the health and safety of the children,” said Jane Ryan, president of the Board of Education. “This is a tragedy. We have the facts and we know what is going on there.”
Lucille Iconis, superintendent, read off a list of activity in the neighborhood that promoted the board to make this decision and so that those present would understand the district’s liability if the path is left open. Activities include: evidence of illicit drug activity, evidence of alcohol use, unusual loitering of middle-aged men in vehicles, the nearby motel and the illicit activities that take place there; the amount of registered sex offenders using that hotel as a residence and obscene and gang-related graffiti on the wall separating the school’s property from the commercial property on the other side.
Additionally, Alan Adcock, deputy superintendent, explained that the amount of unauthorized people on school property trying to cut through to the Philip’s Shopping Center is unsafe for students and disrupts physical education classes.
Iconis proposed to the board a new configuration for the path. The district is planning on creating a fenced-in corridor and moving the entrance to the commercial property from the side to the center so residents can still access that property. Foliage would be planted to maintain the aesthetics of the neighborhood. As for bridge removal, the estimated cost would be $15,000.
According to the school board, the path has been closed since Jan. 1. However, the closure of the path had some parents up in arms.
“There is no police activity in the path that is shutting down your schools,” said a concerned parent. “But you have police activity that is right outside of the schools, on the routes these kids will walk, doing that.”
Noelle Shanly, a Belair Drive resident, agreed.
“You talk about the illicit activities that go on at the motel, now my children will walk right past that,” she said. “They have to walk past a diner and a very busy Dunkin Donuts on Merrick Road. You’re saying that it’s OK for children to walk there? You are still putting them in jeopardy in the other directions. It’s very upsetting to me.”
Shanly also went on to explain that her children do not live far away enough from the school to get a bus and her work schedule does not allow her to drive them to school, creating even more of a problem for working parents.
Ryan advised her to begin looking to make other arrangements to get her children to school.
The board also announced that former school superintendent, Charles Sulc, would be hired on a contract basis to help the district negotiate with the clerical and cafeteria units in order to help expedite the negotiation process. While some members of the community thought that adding Sulc to the mix undermines Iconis and her position, Iconis explained that the district is interested in negotiating and getting contracts in place as quickly as possible so it can begin preparing for the compromises of three more units in the coming months.
“We welcome Mr. Sulc and we feel like he will be able to get this done,” said Iconis, citing Sulc’s many years of experience negotiating with the units.
The next Massapequa School Board meeting will take place on Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at 4925 Merrick Rd., Massapequa.
