Garden City Middle School Remains Closed Friday

Garden City Middle School will remain closed Friday due to a continued power outage in the area as a result of Hurricane Sandy.

The Administration building on Cathedral Avenue will also remain closed.

All other Garden City public schools, including Hemlock, which first closed Oct. 30, will operate on a normal schedule.

Hemlock students returned to class for the first time since Sandy on Wednesday, Nov. 7, reporting to Stratford and Stewart schools.

Garden City middle schoolers, however, have not reported to school since Oct. 29, the day before Sandy hit the region.

Frustrated residents, many going on 11 days without power, are concerned for the students.

"How is it possible in this day and age that the Middle School children miss 2 weeks of school with no end in sight?" one resident asked on the Garden City Patch Facebook page.

"Is there anything else that can be done to try and get these kids back to school. The Administration has done a good job of keeping us informed and for that I am thankful - but is LIPA keeping anyone informed and are they answering to anyone?"

Another resident agreed, adding, "It is appalling that the middle school is still closed."

The district is observing Veterans Day Monday, Nov. 12, so middle school students won't see a classroom until Tuesday - if power is restored by then.

According to an update on the village's website, Sen. Kemp Hannon's office was informed by LIPA that power to Garden City would be fully restored by the end of the day Saturday.

Sen. Hannon, who's been without power himself, is among the skeptics.

"I am not putting away my turtlenecks and sweaters yet," he posted on the Garden City Patch Facebook page. "While the central part of Nassau did not get ocean surges, the residents of Levittown, East Meadow, Bethpage, Farmingdale and Garden City have been out of power, except for lucky pockets, since the hurricane (me included). Obviously a total recast of what we do and how plans are made is the first agenda item."

The district website, which has been down since Hurricane Sandy hit, is temporarily HTTP://gardencity.sharpschool.com. Also note that all school phones and e-mail addresses are operational 7 a.m. until the end of the school day.