Talk Back: Thoughts on District's Proposed Lease with Atlantic Auto

Ralph Benzakein December 18, 2012 at 11:58 pm

While I applaud the board of ed for a creative approach to adding facilities and reducing overhead, I'm not sure that I agree with the implementation of this deal. It seems to me that at a time when our district is starving for funds and having a hard time just meeting the educational requirements of our district, the decision to take "payment" in athletic facilities doesn't sound right.
This is presumably going to cost this car dealer a lot of money. Wouldn't we be better off taking the money and deciding ourselves how best to spend it? If it's just about naming rights, give him a discount for not being able to slap his name on the field or name a wing of the school after him (or name the whole school after him for all I care) . Why are we so focused on a second turf field? Please think about this again. Aside from the gain in athletic facilities, the net gain here is $12,000 per year. And by the way...has anybody seen the horrible track at Beach St Middle School? It's the only outdoor track I've ever seen where you can't run a 100 meter race without going around a corner. But we need a SECOND TURF FIELD?

MARY December 19, 2012 at 04:50 am

12000 dollars annually..1000 dollars a month...Atlantic is owned by a billionaire and he will pay 1000 a month in rent...something doesn't seem right with that..you cannot even get an apartment in West Islip for 1000!!

wiseol'owl December 19, 2012 at 01:50 pm

Turf is a wonderful and stunning purchase. Maintaining the fields primarily utilized by soccer and not the school district I'm sure is appreciated by the soccer club; but if the BOE has the ability to negotiate with Atlantic on behalf of donating to the district-What about donating some in E-readers for the students. E-readers for all students would save the taxpayers the cost of text and workbooks. It would make updating of all materials much easier and cost efficient. It would stop the wasted investment in workbooks(and make the district more green friendly). It would stop the students from having to carry those overweighted back packs back and forth to school. A huge although possibly not as showy and investment and savings for all. As opposed to advertising on a score board, Atlantic could personalize each e-reader with their logo.

Michael Hunt December 19, 2012 at 02:17 pm

First 150 parking slots for "employees" Yeah right. It starts at 150 then slips to 200 then 300 , before long tregarding here will be a thousand cars processing through the place. I warne of this happening if you will revert back to the blogs regarding the 7 Eleven fiasco on Udall & Muncey Rd.
Take a ride north on Udall, cross Bayshore Rd...continue to the sand pit area...continue down a way and on your right you will see a parking / staing area for hundreds of cars. They call it the HILL. Car delivery trucks, flat beds etc are there constantly...which is what the school will look like. I would suggest to Staluppi & his band of merry men to look elsware ...they are quite a slippery bunch.

Michele December 19, 2012 at 09:07 pm

Absolutely correct comments above, we need educational items. Not better fields at this time. Yes.....that is important to some, but our children's education should come first and then the sports. Unfortunatly it seems for some that the sports out weigh anything else, but it shouldn't be.
MM

Rich December 19, 2012 at 11:18 pm

Just an observation. Just one year ago the BOE was closing two ES due to the "budget crisis". By closing both Westbrook and Kirdahy we now have larger class sizes, we have 5 third grade classes in Bellew, we redistricted 800 young children to new schools, we broke a promise to the Special Education students who were promised that they had finally found a home in Westbrook, cut back on the BOCES Program, eliminated our only Dance program, and closed out only ES ever to be nominated a prestigious award and a potential large grant. Now one year later we want to take a million dollars from Atlantic Auto Mall to build a second turf athletic field. A great idea if we weren't closing schools, canceling programs and shuffling 800 very young ES children from one ES to another. I thought schools were about education. Where was all this money when Westbrook was being closed???

Kevin December 19, 2012 at 11:41 pm

Hello, I do not know all the facts, only what is quoted in the article. Glad to see the BOE is thinking, but this plan seems lacking. The article appears to be missing some information to make an informed decision. First of which, what does the commitment to improve school fields equate to in dollar terms (how many fields, upkeep, etc...); alternatively in a free market transaction what would the district charge for naming/advertising rights? Furthermore, I agree with the posters above, doesn't the school district have more pressing educational needs then the sports fields? Also, this is not a $120,000 transaction, when you present value that at market interest rates you will get a much lower number. And I also wonder what the environmental impact will be - I am sure all those cars will contribute to higher air pollution and who knows what will seep into the ground. In the end, for a 10 year commitment this leads to more questions then something the BOE should jump at. I just need more information to make a truly informed opinion.

Kaitlyn Piccoli (Editor) December 21, 2012 at 07:11 pm

Hi Kevin,
I appreciate your input. We'll continue to follow up on this issue as more details become available and negotiations between the BOE and Atlantic Auto progress. The Board admitted that the plan is still in the early stages, and there is much more to be discussed. Stay tuned for more info. - Kaitlyn

Kaitlyn Piccoli (Editor) December 21, 2012 at 07:16 pm

Hi Mary,
Just want to clarify that as part of the proposed 10-year lease, Atlantic Auto would actually be paying the district $30,000 per year. However, included in the agreement is an annual rent reduction of $18,000 for Masera, thus netting the district $12,000 each year. You can check out a more detailed description here: http://patch.com/A-0wvF - Kaitlyn

Rich December 22, 2012 at 02:19 am

Kaitlyn, maybe you can also find out why they forced 800 you children from their schools, over crowed the remaining 4 ES, elimated our only Dance Program, never revealed that Westbrook was being considered forces prestigious award and possible 150,000 grant, made cuts to the Boces Program, and broke a promise to keep the Special Education Program at Westbrook but now only 7 months later they suddenly have acces to 1 million to build a second turf field. What happened to the "Crisis"????

pam schaefer-sauerland December 22, 2012 at 01:31 pm

Michael I agree with you. I would not like to drive down Udall Road a year from now and look at a massive car parking lot that would bring down the area. Yes, all those cars down in Brentwood I understand are going to need a new home and where are they going to go? You also brought up a good point about the old gas station on the corner of Hunter and Udall Road. Personally I was for the 7-11, the plans showed a nice clean looking building. It was shut down by neighbors for fear of rift raft which I understand. Well, what do you think a large open parking lot is going to bring.

pam schaefer-sauerland December 22, 2012 at 01:32 pm

I don't know if you know but the screens and playground at Masera Learning Center have been vandalized, not to mention the children's Community Outing bus that was also vandalized. The bus cost thousands of dollars to be repaired and delayed the students at Masera to go on their Community Outings, which is part of their curriculum. I just fear that a larger lot will encourage another hang out and trouble. West Islip is not excluded from drug dealing and gang issues, along with no place for our tweens and teenagers to go. I also agree with Kevin and his comment on Pollution. West Islip has lost so many of its residents, young students and adults, through cancer what is all this going to do to our local environment? Yes, we need to grow with the times but in a more healthy and productive manner. What the answer is; well I guess that is where all our ideas and discussions come into play. I would hope that the tragedies we have all gone thorugh in the last two months will assist us in keeping our perspective as to what is important and the right thing to do.

Michael Hunt December 23, 2012 at 03:17 pm

Pam
Exactly ! The Atlantic boyzz do not need the parking spaces for their "EMPLOYEES". They need it to stage their new car inventory instead of having to travel all the way to the "HILL" , They will start with 150...Who is going to go everyday and count. Then 200, 300 500... What about all the trailers delivering new cars...The flatbeds etc, The place will turn into a commercial cess pool if this plan is allowed. What a discrace to the fine man who this facility was named after Emil Massara....taught my kids over 35 years ago...sucummed to cancer at an early age...gentleman....pity. Regarding the pig pen on Muncey & Udall Rd. Glad to see that the 7 Eleven didn't fly...I personally filed a complaint to the Town regarding the present appearance of the now "auto repair shop"..Looks like a Third World Country operation Thanks to the Halpin boyzz .The place looks like a dump. Evidently the owners really did not really want to improve the appearance as was stated in their bid for the 7 Eleven...they were prepared to donate $25000 if the 7 Eleven was approved....sounded like a bribe to me, No 7 Eleven , no $25000....same dump ! See balance of this blog on separate blog immediately following

Michael Hunt December 23, 2012 at 03:17 pm

Part 2
I have filed a complaint regarding the appearance of the existing property --- TC1664 ( Violation of original covvenants) on 11/3/12 with Code enforcement 631-224-5460 & zoning They are required to maintain property in accordance with local regulations. So far I have not seen any improvements on the part of the owners but that does not surprise me since they use an attorney who recently was censured and punished by the bar assn. Slick bunch ...just a word of warning....keep up the pressure on the Atlantic situation.....the area will be a nightmare if their plan gets approved. Talk about traffic & conjestion....just wait..trust me

pampatriot January 7, 2013 at 02:43 pm

RSjets
12:28 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2013 West Islip has really hit rock bottom. It's bad enough they hire a principle who turned my daughter's school into his personal brothel. She had a slumber party over break and I… How come the above post was deleted from the comments section?