Friday, January 17, 2025
Vol. 2, No. 3
THE GATEWAY TO NASSAU COUNTY SERVING FLORAL PARK, BELLEROSE AND STEWART MANOR
2 Sewanhaka schools seniors January 28 vote to named Regeneron semifinalists decide future of schools’
HVAC upgrades
BY KASSARA MCELROY
Elmont Memorial High School senior Aafia Ahmed Sewanhaka Central High School District is pleased to announce that Elmont Memorial High School senior Aafia Ahmed and H. Frank Carey High School senior Natalie Osorio have been selected as semifinalists in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2025, a prestigious science and math research competition. Ahmed and Osorio were among 300 scholars nationwide and 49 on Long Island selected for this honor.
H. Frank Carey High School senior Natalie Osorio
The scholars were chosen based on their outstanding research, leadership skills, community involvement, commitment to academics, creativity in asking scientific questions and exceptional promise as STEM leaders demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendations. Ahmed’s project is titled, “JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway mediates methyl-
mercury toxicity in mouse astrocyte neuronal C8-D1A cell line.” Osorio’s project is titled, “Biophysical investigations into the structure and function of pseudomonas aeruginosa nitric oxide signaling system.” The scholars and their schools will each be awarded $2,000. The top 40 finalists will be announced on Jan. 23.
Photos courtesy of the Sewanhaka Central High School District
The January 9th Floral Park School's Board of Education meeting began on a lively note with a performance by the John Lewis Childs School color guard, accompanied unexpectedly by loud bangs from the school’s aging heating system. This set the stage for the evening’s main topic: the January 28 public vote on a bond referendum that, if approved, would help fund upgrades to the HVAC systems at Floral Park-Bellerose and John Lewis Childs schools. Superintendent Lisa Ruiz addressed the issue, “I don’t know if you heard, but the heating system was just gurgling and sounded like a pot that was banging and boiling. That’s an indication that the system is not in good shape and it’s time to make the commitment as a district to make this heating conversion.” District records show $1.3 million has been spent on unsustainable repairs since 2018. During these repairs, students have been displaced, and furniture and learning materials have been damaged. “It’s an unreliable system with inconsistent performance. We need to know that every day, when we come to school, our classrooms will be heated and functioning well, with evenly distributed heat throughout the building,” Ruiz added. The proposed project includes a
conversion from steam to hot water heating, alongside the installation of a central air conditioning system. Engineers from Energia presented findings from energy models they created that predict annual fuel savings of about $40,089 for Floral Park-Bellerose School and $17,680 for John Lewis Childs School. These savings are intended to offset the electricity costs of the air conditioning additions. Administrators emphasized that the new system would improve air quality, reduce the spread of illness, support students with respiratory health needs, and create a more comfortable and energy-efficient learning environment. State regulations are adding urgency to the project. The New York State Maximum Temperature Bill for Schools, taking effect September 1, 2025, sets 88 degrees as the maximum allowable classroom temperature and requires intervention at 82 degrees. While window air conditioners currently provide some relief, they are insufficient for larger classrooms and extreme heat. The $28.5 million HVAC project will be funded through $8.8 million in capital reserves and unassigned funds, with a $19.6 million bond. For the average homeowner, this would mean an annual tax increase of $66 starting in 2028. A public vote on the See page 11
FP native earns nonprofit director role PAGE 3 Color Guard honored at BOE meeting PAGE 2