East Williston board of education renews calls for perimeter fencing after SUV crashes through elementary school
The school was empty at the time of Sunday's crash.
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The East Williston Board of Education renewed the district's calls to install safety and security measures outside of North Side Elementary School, one day after a car slammed through the school's library after a driver suffered a medical emergency.
East Williston Superintendent of Schools Danielle Gately and board President Mark Kamberg both delivered public statements at this morning's previously scheduled special meeting following executive session.
"The safety of our students, staff and visitors remains our highest and most important responsibility," Gately said.
"Yesterday evening's incident at North Side School was a stark reminder of how quickly unexpected events can occur," Kamberg added.
Nassau County police said a 77-year-old man was driving a Jeep when he suffered a medical emergency that forced his SUV off the road and into the building at 110 East Williston Ave.
Neighbors said traffic is usually bad on that stretch of road, even at the time of the crash, when they didn't hear it until first responders showed up.
"Hopefully everybody is okay and then you worry about the driver," East Williston resident Nyna McKittrick said.
The district said the building was empty during the crash, but there are piles of books, windows and other library materials scattered across the ground inside.
The debate over the fences around North Side Elementary School heightened in 2019, when the district began construction on the 6-foot fences after receiving approval from the State Education Department.
The district said the fence was necessary to keep students, staff and faculty safe from intruders walking freely onto the campus.
Work stopped after a group of residents sued, alleging that the district failed to apply for the proper variances from the village for the fence's height.
The district contended that it didn't need to apply because it was authorized by the state.
A judge initially ruled in favor of the residents, but the district appealed the decision and in 2024 a State Appellate judge reversed the lower court ruling and sent the case back to continue litigation.
"The accident that occurred yesterday would not have been prevented by the fencing currently proposed," Kamberg said. "However, the district's original plans envisioned a comprehensive approach to protecting the entire campus. Those plans included perimeter fencing as well as a stone wall retaining wall along the East Williston Avenue property line."
Work has not restarted as the case remains open.
News 12 reached out to the village of East Williston, the State Education Department and the attorney who brought the lawsuit against the district and is waiting to hear back.
As for yesterday's damage, Kamberg said the district is working with its architect and the State Education Department to come up with a plan to have the wall and library fixed in time for the upcoming school year.
