(Friday, November 18, 2016 -- Wading River, NY) – State and local officials joined with the Little Flower Union Free School District and their honored guests, to celebrate the ground breaking for the first phase of the school district’s Capital Project.
Senator Kenneth LaValle and Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo were in attendance. Senator LaValle kicked off the ceremony by talking about the impact this project will have for the students at the Little Flower School. He expressed how his career as a senator has been personally connected with Little Flower for over 41 years and how excited he is to see the school continue to positively impact the lives of its students.
The first phase of the project will commence with a new roof and the addition of a six classroom wing. The second phase will begin next summer as the school’s interior will be renovated to address health & safety and accessibility issues.
Many organizations played a role in helping Little Flower bring this plan to fruition. “This project was initiated in 2007 and it truly ‘took a village’ to see it finally become a reality”, said Superintendent Stachowski. “We have a lot of people to thank.” Partners in the project include: New York State Education Department (NYSED); Dormitory Authority State of New York (DASNY); Bartlett, Amoruso, & Recce Architects, PC; HodgsonRuss, LLP; Piper Jaffray & Co.; First Niagara Bank; and Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York.
“DASNY is thrilled to have a hand in making this project possible,” said Gerrard P. Bushell, DASNY President & CEO. “The new classroom additions as well as renovations to current spaces will provide a welcoming and safe learning environment for students who need it the most.”
The Little Flower Union Free School District is a Special Act public school district, established by a special act of the New York State Legislature under Chapter 469 of the Laws of 1972. Little Flower UFSD provides both Residential and Day placements for youth in grades 3 through 12. The program specializes in meeting both the academic and social/emotional needs of each student.
Little Flower was one of only six schools nation-wide that was selected in 2015-2016 as a “Welcoming School” from the International Alliance for Invitational Education (IAIE).