Clarkstown Expresses Interest In Reuben Gittelman Hebrew Day School Property

Clarkstown Town Supervisor Alex Gromack said Wednesday the town might be interested in the , which is closing in June.  Gromack has directed the town attorney’s office to contact the school’s leaders this week to let them know of the town’s interest and to determine if the building and property were still available. 

“It’s just really in the early stages,” he said. 

Debbie Roth, vice president of ’s board of trustees, said, “We don’t have a signed contract.”

“There are ongoing discussions,” she said and they are “still speaking to interested parties.”

Roth would not elaborate any further.

Parents and teachers met with school officials last week and learned that decreasing enrollment had led to the decision to close the Jewish day school.  Enrollment dropped from 350 students in the pre-kindergarten through eighth grade school in 2002 to 250 three years ago and then to the current 150 students.  Classes end on June 20.

Gromack said the town is interested in the future of the building.  Finding out if the building is still available and has not been sold would be the start of a process.  The next step would be to learn what the asking price is.

“Then you’d have to authorize an appraisal,” said Gromack.  “Then at the same time we would have to evaluate what is the benefit.”

The 41,000-square-foot-building on New Hempstead Road in New City has two levels and is 20 years old. 

Gromack noted that appraisal and market prices could vary significantly.  One possible town use of the building would be for recreational purposes he said.