Forest Road gets a facelift

Students entered Forest Road Elementary in Valley Stream’s District 30 on Sept. 2 to roughly $1.4 million in updates and renovations to the school that were completed over the summer.

Highlighting the construction, which was paid from the district’s capital reserve fund, was the installation of a new playground and new heating and lighting systems. Superintendent Dr. Nicholas Stirling praised the work done at the school, saying, “I believe that the upgrades we made over the summer will enhance the fine work that is being done by students and teachers.”

The new lighting systems installed during the summer should not only give the school a more modern look, but, according to Stirling and Director of Facilities Russel Costa, help students and teachers in the classroom. Replacing the fluorescent light bulbs that used to illuminate classrooms and hallways will be energy efficient LED lighting. The lights will be brighter and cleaner than the old system, said Costa, and also stand to provide the school with extra money. Costa said that the district “will not only be receiving discounts from the lower energy usage of the new lighting, but will actually receive additional rebates” from the district’s electric provider, PSEG.

Meanwhile, according to Costa, the new heating system may help keep kids more alert while in school. The school was fitted with a new system that will bring the school up to codes set by the New York State Department of Education and help increase the amount of fresh air in classrooms. Costa said that the new system draws air inside from vents located on the outside of the building, where it will run through an air filtration system and be combined with recycled air from in the building, heated and then vented into classrooms. “Hopefully the fresh air in classrooms will help keep kids focused,” Costa said, “particularly as the weather changes and the windows are closed, which used to mean a lot less fresh air in classrooms. Now we can have fresh air.”