BOE Planning Board Hearing Set For Thursday

The Islip Town Planning Board will hold a public hearing for the West Islip Board of Education regarding the former Kirdahy and Westbrook elementary school buildings Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

Attorney Thomas Volz will represent the West Islip School District during the hearing, in which the planning board will determine the extent to which the district can retain its tax exempt status as a not-for-profit public entity while leasing out the buildings to commercial tenants.

The BOE is not looking to change the zoning of the properties, but rather maintain the exemption the district currently has, said Board of Education Vice President AnnMarie LaRosa.

"Without this exemption from the town, the district will have a difficult time actually leasing the buildings, which is what the board really wants to do, and what the board has heard from the community that they want us to do," LaRosa said.

Though no deals have been announced yet, the board is currently pursuing tenants for the buildings as a means of revenue for the district. A resolution from the town must be in place before the district finalizes a contract with potential tenants.

The properties are listed by West Islip-based broker Jamie Winkler, of Winkler Real Estate.

A letter was mailed last week to homes within 200 feet of both properties giving notice of the hearing and encouraging community members to attend. (See attached photo.) The district also posted a public notice regarding the hearing on its website.

Westbrook and Kirdahy closed in June, following the school board's decision to consolidate the district's six elementary schools into four due to declining enrollment and rising costs.

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