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Vandalism a scourge at vacant school

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The vacant Seaford Avenue School remains a target for vandals, with the latest incident occurring last week when four people broke into the building.

The school has been empty for four years when Nassau BOCES, which was leasing the space, moved out. The Seaford School District stopped using it as an elementary school in 1981. A developer is in contract to buy the property, demolish the building, and construct senior housing.

On Oct. 20, alarms went off at the school at 1:30 p.m. and Seaford School District security staff responded. The following day, four people were arrested, including three male adults and a juvenile, and each charged with third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal mischief in connection with the break-in, according to Nassau County Police.

Superintendent Brian Conboy said that alarms have gone off a number of times during the four plus years the building has sat vacant, but it is rare to find anyone inside. He was also surprised that this was done in the middle of the day. “We’re just very fortunate that we were on the scene quickly enough to find the people responsible,” he said.

He added that there is not much damage to do inside the school. The building is already in a state of disrepair and its contents have mostly been emptied out. “The place is pretty run down,” he said.

Vandalism remains an ongoing issue at the school. Many of the windows in the back have been broken and are now boarded up, and portions of the building are covered in graffiti. Nassau County Police also received a report on Oct. 18 at 6:40 p.m. that multiple windows were damaged there.

The superintendent noted that the building is fully alarmed, and security personnel respond immediately. The district has a security staff of 20 active and retired police officers. In light of last week’s incident, Conboy said they will keep a closer watch on the building, which sits at the corner of Seaford and Waverly avenues.

BK at Seaford LLC, a subsidiary of The Engel Burman Group in Garden City, is proposing to build 112 two-bedroom, two-bath condominium units on the 5.67 acre site for residents 62 and older. There would also be a clubhouse, pool and 195 parking spaces. School district voters, in December 2012, approved the sale of the property for $5.2 million. Once the development is built, it is expected to bring in $976,000 a year in additional tax revenue.

The Nassau County Planning Commission is currently reviewing the proposal. Once the property is sold, it will be up to the developer to demolish the 1938 building. Until then, the district will still be responsible for its upkeep and protection.

“The sooner that the building is demolished and the condominiums are built,” Conboy said, “the better off we’ll be.”