Building Inspection Survey Finds Three KP Schools in Need of Repair

The results of a recent building inspection survey conducted on schools in the Kings Park Central School District listed the status of three schools as unsatisfactory. The results of the annual inspection were announced at the Jan. 11 Board of Education meeting and found structural issues at R.J.O Intermediate, Fort Salonga and San Remo causing them to miss reaching a satisfactory mark.

Areas that were noted to be in need of repair at the three schools included chimney and masonry work in Fort Salonga and R.J.O., as well as electrical repairs needed in the San Remo building.

According to  Kings Park Central School District Superintendent, Dr. Susan Argruso some of the work has already begun.

“None of the buildings are falling down, but some of the work needs to be done very quickly, “ she said.

The estimated price tag of these repairs was stated as $34 million, putting even further pressure on administrators to come up with solutions to ever increasing budget issues.

“The school board is in the problem solving business,” said Board of Education Trustee Steve Weber.

“The budget cycle is a big problem, we are going to find a way to fix it,” he said.

The $34 million price tag is an estimate on gross repairs, with the details still to be made available.

“The schools are in a satisfactory condition for the most part, we need to find a way to finance it,” said Weber.

These costs are likely to be raised at the upcoming school budget workshops in February when administrators and the board begin the process of preparing the yearly budget.

“Safety comes first, even before education,” said Weber.