Sent via SchoolMessenger on December 10, 2021
At its December 9 meeting, the Board of Education passed a resolution to hold a public bond vote and special Board of Education election on March 8, 2022.
The District will ask voters to support a capital project totaling $49,932,000 which focuses on classroom renovations across all buildings to include new HVAC and building management systems for increased fresh air, filtration, cooling and efficiency, as well as lighting, ceiling, flooring and casework upgrades and replacement. Additional work includes the relocation of the main entrance at Cottage Lane Elementary School, renovation of the Tappan Zee High School auditorium and site work at all four schools.
The proposed project would be funded, in part, with $18,000,000 in capital reserve funds. The remaining $31,932,000 would be bonded.
“Over the past several years, our Board of Education, staff, and community stakeholders have engaged in a long-range capital planning process designed to preserve and improve our publicly-owned facilities,” said Superintendent of Schools Robert Pritchard, Ed.D. “This process reflects an emphasis on safety, long-range fiscal stewardship, cost savings, and mission-focus designed to best meet the needs of our students. The March 8 referendum will ask our community to further invest in our children and our future.”
In addition, a special Board of Education election will be held to fill the seat vacated by Christine Lee, who announced her resignation due to relocation outside the District effective December 17, 2021. Lee was first elected to the Board of Education in 2017 and re-elected in 2020. The candidate elected in March 2022 will serve the remainder of Lee’s current term, which ends June 30, 2023.
Following the announcement of her resignation, Lee remarked, “It has been a privilege and honor to serve the District and to work with Dr. Pritchard, the staff and my fellow Board members, all of whom are so committed. I look forward to hearing about the great things you will accomplish in the future.”
Board President Leon Jacobs, who participated remotely in the December 9 meeting, expressed gratitude for Lee’s dedication. “It has truly been a pleasure to serve with Ms. Lee, to have her insights inform our deliberations over the past four years. The perspective that she brought to the Board has been phenomenal in terms of making us think deeply about our decision-making. You will be missed and we wish you the best.”
Detailed information regarding the public bond vote and special Board of Education election will be posted on an ongoing basis at www.socsd.org/bond and mailed to community residents in mid-January. Nominating petitions will be available from the District Clerk’s office at 160 Van Wyck Road, Blauvelt, New York, starting January 3, 2022.