HALB’s a comin! Long Beach school files plans for new campus at Woodmere’s No. 6

The Hebrew Academy of Long Beach (HALB) has filed a tentative plan with the Town of Hempstead’s Zoning Board of Appeals for its use of the Number Six School in Woodmere.

HALB is purchasing the 6.67-acre site, which includes a 80,170-square-foot school building, for $8.5 million plus $2.7 million that will be held as a guarantee that Lawrence Board of Education realizes at least $565,000 in annual savings on what the district now spends on transportation and special education for HALB students.

“I actually believe that the annual savings will far exceed that estimate — if [HALB’s] student enrollment stays close to what it is today, the numbers will be higher,” said HALB President Lance Hirt.

In two years, HALB is expected to move its Long Beach-based elementary school — which houses kindergarten through eighth grade, currently 800 students — from a beachfront building on West Broadway to the Church Avenue site, officials previously said. HALB expects to sell its Long Beach building.

“We know that our initial plan will be rejected given the fact that we are making some minor changes to the current layout and use of the site,” Hirt said.

Having the initial plan rejected is part of the process, he said. The zoning board reviews proposed changes, and then either denies them or grants approval.

Previously HALB said that renovations to the building are needed to make better use of classroom space and public areas, install a new roof and windows to improve energy efficiency, put in a state-of-the-art heating and air conditioning system, along with new electrical and plumbing systems that comply with current building codes.

Lawrence board president Murray Forman did not return calls for comment.

A version of this report by Jeffrey Bessen first appeared in this week’s Nassau Herald.