Wantagh schools to receive $150K grant

Upgrades are on tap for Wantagh schools in the near future, as the district is slated to receive a special legislative grant from Nassau County.

The Board of Education met in a special session on Aug. 1 to approve an inter-municipal agreement to accept $150,000 for various outdoor projects. The grant was offered to the district by Legislator David Denenberg.

The money will fund the purchase and installation of handicapped-accessible playground equipment at the Forest Lake Elementary School, the refurbishment of baseball and football fields throughout the district, and a message sign to be placed outside the high school.

According to the Board of Education, the grant requires that projects must serve a public good, benefiting the entire community, not just the children of the district. Board members explained that the Wantagh School District’s playgrounds and fields are open to residents of the district when schools are not in session.

They also noted that Forest Lake was chosen to receive the handicapped-accessible playground equipment because the school houses much of the district’s special education population.

As for the message sign, board Trustee Kera McLoughlin noted that it can be used not only for school district announcements, but for emergency messages from the county.

Board President Anthony Greco described all of the projects as “much-needed work” in the district.

Given the school board’s unanimous decision, the awarding of the grant can now be placed on the August legislative calendar for approval by the County Legislature. Assistant Superintendent for Business Adriana Silver will execute the agreement.

Denenberg has provided grants to the Wantagh district before, including $19,200 through Youth Services for Challenge Day at the high school, and $1,000 for motivational speaker Bobby Petrocelli’s Triumph over Tragedy program. Denenberg also brought a county traffic safety program on texting and driving to the school.

He said he hopes the latest grant will benefit both the district and the community. “The school district could use additional assistance,” Denenberg said, “and I’m proud to be in a position where I could identify the funds.”

There is no timetable for the work to be completed, but it must be done within five years. Board members said they don’t want to wait that long. “We’d like to do it as soon as we’re able to do it,” Trustee Michael Cucci said.