Bellmore-Merrick CHSD Propose Selling Jerusalem Avenue School

The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is going to be holding a special community forum next month to discuss the sale of the Jerusalem Avenue School.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 5 at 7 p.m. in the board room at the Brookside School, located at 1260 Meadowbrook Road in North Merrick.

The Board of Education is considering selling the Jerusalem Avenue School to Nassau BOCES, which has rented the building for the past 19 years. BOCES pays the district $1.3 million a year in rent, and uses the school to house programs for preschools and elementary school-aged students with disabilities.

The district plans to sell the building for $12 million, creating a one-time revenue that would be put into a reserve fund to programs and services in the future.

Part of the sale agreement the district has drafted with BOCES would allow Bellmore-Merrick to keep ownership of the field and track at the Jerusalem Avenue School, and also be able to use all of the parking fields and restrooms during athletic events. The district would also have access to the gym.

The forum is being held to give the public an opportunity to express their thoughts directly to the board. Depending on public input, the Board of Education said it may vote on a resolution at the meeting to move forward with the sale.

Superintendent John DeTommaso encourages any residents who have questions prior to the meeting to contact him at 992-1001 or by emailing jdetommaso@bellmore-merrick.k12.ny.us.

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