By SUZANNE MARINO

Staff writer      

MARGATE – What to do with the Union Avenue School has been one of the ongoing questions in the city since the school was mothballed in June 2010 and the students moved to the William H. Ross Elementary School.

The Board of Education settled the matter by a 6-1 vote Wednesday, Aug. 17 deciding to deed the school over to the city for $1.

 

Board of Education President J.B. Sless explained to members of the Board of School Estimate on Thursday, Aug. 18 that after much debate, the school board determined that municipal use would be the best use of the facility.

The lone dissenter at the Aug. 17 Board of Education meeting was member Renee Bell, who said it should remain in the hands of the Board of Education.

Sless read a statement that indicated the school district would turn the building over to the city of Margate provided that the school district would get the right of first refusal to reclaim ownership of the school if it is no longer needed for municipal purposes.

Currently the Union Avenue School is getting some maintenance work completed, mold abatement, asbestos removal and heating and cooling ducts cleaned. All work will need to be completed before there are any changes in ownership of the building.

The mayor and the commissioners are members of the Board of School Estimate and were hearing of the offer to deed the school to the city for the first time publicly.

It will take a resolution by the commissioners for the city to officially accept the Union Avenue School.

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