Nassau: North Shore gets new athletic facility

The North Shore school district is enjoying a new $3.8 million athletic field and track at its high school in Glen Head, thanks to creative financing that combined resources from the school district and a nonprofit organization.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last month for the 153,980-square-foot sports complex, which replaced and expanded a deteriorated facility that had drainage problems.

Some $3.1 million came from the district's capital reserve fund, with $1.5 million of that amount to be replenished by the Viking Foundation, a nonprofit that strives to enrich the district's educational environment.

"This is one of the first examples of a public/private combination of funding resources, which I think will be a model under the state's 2 percent tax cap," Superintendent Edward Melnick said.

The new complex includes a multiuse, synthetic turf field, an eight-lane running track, and a 1,700-square-foot concession, bathroom and storage building. To protect adjacent wetlands, a drainage system with subsurface water detention chambers will store runoff.

"The drainage system consists of a permeable stone base beneath the synthetic turf and a perforated pipe network that directs rainwater to the underground, plastic detention chambers," said Joseph Rettig, director of architecture for BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers in Patchogue, which handled the project's architecture and engineering. Savin Engineers Pc in Hauppauge provided construction management.

Additional funds came from a $105,000 grant procured by state Sen. Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) and Assemb. Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove), Melnick said.

New principal Richard Faccio is principal of New Hyde Park Memorial High School, replacing Michael

De Martino, who retired. Faccio previously was principal at Canandaigua Academy and an adjunct teacher at Finger Lakes Community College, both in upstate New York.

Interim superintendent Mary Lagnado is interim superintendent of Westbury Union Free School District, replacing Constance Clark-Snead, who retired. Lagnado previously was the district's assistant superintendent for business and management services.

COUNTYWIDE

Education Partners

Nassau BOCES is accepting nominations for its 7th Annual Education Partner Awards, which recognizes individuals who demonstrate a commitment to providing the best possible education in Nassau County. Nominations can be submitted at nassauboces.org/nominate. The deadline is Nov. 2.

ISLANDWIDE

Young Scholars of Math

Seventy-eight Long Island students have been named Young Scholars of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY Old Westbury. About 700 students competed by submitting an essay and taking an entrance exam. Selection implies they rank among the top one-tenth of 1 percent of math students in their grade on Long Island, college officials said.