Two propositions to be voted on Oct. 24 in the Carle Place School District would finance various capital improvement work through a bond referendum and authorization to use capital reserve funds.
Community members aired their opinions for and against these propositions at the community forum last Thursday. Joanna DeMartino, the district’s assistant superintendent of business, presented the ballot at the meeting, which will contain two separate propositions.
Proposition No. 1 calls for replacing the existing heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems at Carle Place Middle and High School. The existing heating plants at both schools are approximately 35 years old. The current capital reserve balance is less than the funding required to complete a project of this magnitude, which is why it’s being proposed for a bond vote.
“The new heating and air conditioning systems will be highly efficient and will include dedicated outdoor air systems that condition and clean the air in the classrooms,” according to a press release. “New heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems will be added to the gymnasiums. Improvements also include replacing the building’s suspended ceilings and installing LED lighting.”
The district will receive approximately 16.4 percent of the total cost of proposition No. 1 from the New York State Building Aid. Of the total cost $3 million will be funded through the district’s capital reserve fund, while the remaining $10 million will be financed through a bond. The estimated impact to taxpayers for proposition No. 1 is approximately $12.82 on an average annual tax bill.
The second proposition includes the construction of a five-classroom extension on Cherry Lane Elementary School for the purpose of housing the district’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. The district launched its UPK program this year, which takes place in the newly renovated high school math and science room. The total cost of proposition No. 2 is approximately $6 million, which would be funded through a bond.
“The reason why we’re proposing a five-classroom extension is that in a regular year, we have five classes of kindergarten or five classes of second grade or five classes of fifth grade so it stands to reason that five classes of pre-K students would roll over the next year and cover five classes of kindergarten,” Ted Cannone, superintendent of the Carle Place School District, said.
If proposition No. 1 passes and proposition No. 2 fails, proposition No. 1 will still pass.
“If only proposition No. 1 passes, the district will need a $10 million bond and will utilize $3 million from our existing capital reserves to account for the full $13M cost of this project,” according to CPS.k12.ny.us.
However, if proposition No. 1 fails and proposition No. 2 passes, both will fail.
Many community members said the schools can accommodate UPK classes without constructing new classrooms. Cannone said if the vote fails, at least one more class can be added to the existing buildings.
“If the UPK part of this fails, then we’re going to have to reconsider what, how, when, if we expand,” Cannone said. “We could probably squeeze in another section, another class in. I think we can fit two. After that, we’re stuck for space and we would have to regroup from here.”
These propositions would result in a net annual increase of approximately $77.77 for the average taxpayer.
On CPS.k12.ny.us/page/bond-vote-2024, you can view the district’s “Bond Estimated Tax Impact Calculator” to see how much your taxes will increase if propositions No. 1 and 2 or just 1 pass.
According to the district, proposition No. 1 would last 15 years and No. 2 would last over 20 years.
The vote will be held from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Carle Place High School multipurpose room on Thursday, Oct. 24.
