Garden City High School Breaks Ground for Music Addition

Breaking ground for Garden City High School’s new music addition on Oct. 21 was made all the more special by the attending students, parents, staff and local and regional officials, including New York State Education Department Regent Roger Tilles.

A lifelong proponent of arts education in schools, the Regent spoke with delight to the attendees explaining that at a time when he is witnessing so many school districts across the state cutting music programs, Garden City is creating new spaces to support its young musicians. Turning to the students, he shared his experience of discovering a love of music, and the vital role music has played in his life.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen added his thanks to Regent Tilles, to the board, groundbreaking attendees and to the community for supporting the 2009 School Investment Bond, of which the high school music addition is a part.

The addition will include three new classrooms for performing ensembles and multiple storage spaces and will free existing interior spaces for other instructional uses.

The construction marks the beginning of the third and final Bond project that changes the footprint of a district’s school building. The two other projects, the Garden City Middle School’s gym and Homestead’s art/music/library addition, are underway. All three projects are anticipated to be completed for the opening of the 2012-2013 school year.

The district expresses its thanks to Regent Roger Tilles, Mayor Donald Brudie, Assemblyman Tom McKevitt, Board of Education members Angela Heineman, Laura Hastings and Tom Pinou, district and high school administration, high school music teachers, PTA, Friends of Music, marching band parents and the attending music students for lending their support to kick off this new project.  

Residents can view architect’s renderings of the completed music addition and track construction progress on the district’s website.