Pleasantville School Officials Mulling May Bond for District Repairs
By Janine Bowen
Pleasantville School District officials are planning a May referendum to help pay for close to $4 million worth of repairs and upgrades to the district’s three schools.
Architect John D’Angelo provided officials and the public with an overview of the work during a presentation at the Pleasantville Board of Education’s March 18 meeting.
“I think while we can, and still have local control, these are things we need to take care of,” said Board President Shane McGaffey, referring to the state legislature’s consideration of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s tax freeze proposal that would limit what district’s could spend to provide their constituents with a property tax rebate.
The proposed improvements are expected to cost an estimated $3,965,000. The board plans to pay for most of the work through a 15-year bond, with the rest coming from fund balance. However, officials stressed the project would be budget neutral since another bond with the same $300,000 annual debt service will be coming off the books for the 2015-16 school year.
The board is expected to vote on a resolution to set a May 20 referendum at this Tuesday’s board meeting. If trustees pass the resolution, residents will vote whether to approve the bond on the same day as the statewide budget vote and board of education election.
If approved by voters, work on the schools would take place during the summer in 2015.
Work planned for the Bedford Road Elementary School includes replacement of the synthetic turf field and paving and sidewalk improvements in high-use areas. The pavement in certain locations has become severely cracked.
It is also expected that interior vestibule doors will be installed within the existing lobby space to allow for increased security. It would also be more energy efficient because it would shelter the main lobby from cold air when visitors enter.
Work is a bit more extensive at the middle school. Plans call for roof replacement in the main building and the annexed gymnasium. Currently, the roof has been patched to prevent leaks, but trustees said this is a temporary solution.
Floor tiles and plaster ceilings that contain asbestos also need to be removed and replaced. The board assured the public, however, that although it is critical that some areas containing the tiles are renovated, the school’s students are safe and have not been exposed to the harmful substance.
Repairs would also be made to the school’s outdoor basketball court, which contains some cracks that could worsen and require it to be replaced.
At the high school, the major project is the replacement of the two turf fields and resurfacing of the track, which currently contains a large sinkhole. Repairs to the drainage system on the field are also needed to prevent flooding. The field was scheduled to be evaluated by a contractor to identify the problem and find a solution to the flooding.
In addition to the various repairs, technology upgrades will be made throughout the district. These upgrades would enhance school security, accommodate the needs of students and satisfy the requirements of the state’s mandated computer-based testing.
“Whether we want to do it or not, we’ll probably have to do it,” McGaffey said.
Some residents were concerned with technology’s constantly changing devoting $1 million would be cost effective. However, officials said the district would receive additional state aid for all instructional-based technology.
Resident Peter McAndrew said while the bond would replace an expiring bond it would prevent the possibility of a budget decrease.
“I just want to remind the board that simply because a bond’s coming off…and creating the same debt service is budget neutral…there is also the option of reducing the budget by not doing it,” he said.
McGaffey agreed with McAndrew’s, but noted that the district needs to complete the work while it still has the freedom to make that decision. If Cuomo’s tax freeze proposal passes this legislative session, all districts would have to receive permission from a consortium of schools that comprise member districts of its regional BOCES.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
