Shuttered LI School Leased To Western Suffolk BOCES: District

WEST BABYLON, NY — West Babylon's Forest Avenue Elementary School, which the school board voted to close in February, will be leased to Western Suffolk BOCES for educational use, the school district announced Tuesday.

In a statement, West Babylon Union Free School District said the entire Forest Avenue Elementary School building will be leased for educational use and that under the agreement, BOCES will retain the Forest Avenue name and operate the building as an elementary school serving children with special education needs, beginning in September 2025.

The decision to consolidate the district's five elementary schools down to four was based on enrollment steadily declining since 2010, which left the school with the lowest enrollment out of any district school north of Sunrise Highway.

"This agreement reflects the district’s continued commitment to responsible stewardship of community resources," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Yiendhy Farrelly. "We’re proud that the Forest Avenue School building will continue to serve children and support educational excellence, especially for students who benefit from specialized programs."

While the Forest Hills building will be fully leased to BOCES, WBUFSD will continue to have access to the athletic fields for student and community use during after-school hours, the statement said.