Port Washington voters narrowly approved a $69.9 million school bond on Tuesday for various capital improvements throughout the district.
The bond was approved with a 2,294-2,055 vote, school officials said.
“The upgrades to our schools will ensure that our educational vision for a high quality, competitive curriculum will be implemented at all levels. We have set the course for a bright educational future for all of our students,” wrote Port Washington Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Mooney in a statement published on the district’s website on Tuesday night.
“We will be careful stewards of the financial responsibilities entrusted to us and look forward to starting the planning process,” Mooney continued. “There is much work to be done, but we are ready to begin!”
The plan is comprised of projects the Board of Bducation has defined as meeting “facility needs” and “spatial needs” to its seven schools.
Projects consist of minor repairs, reconstruction efforts and renovations, as well as the construction of two multipurpose athletic fields, upgrades to science labs at Carrie Palmer Weber Middle School and Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School and the formation of at least one science lab at each elementary school, various technological and security upgrades and the installation of air conditioning in at least one large common space at each school.
Projects were considered based on the suggestions of the board, the district’s professional and administrative staffs, community groups and the Patchogue architectural firm BBS Architects & Engineers.
Trustees have said the bond would be paid over a 20-year period and that homeowners would see a median $101 increase on their school taxes during the first seven years of the bond.
Reach reporter Bill San Antonio by e-mail at bsanantonio@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x215 and on Twitter @ Bill_SanAntonio. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
