The Farmingdale School District proposes a $78 million bond referendum to address infrastructure issues, safety, security and programming. The bond includes two propositions.
The community will vote on Jan. 7 as to whether the propositions pass.
If both propositions pass, the estimated tax impact is an additional $70 per year per household, according to the district.
The bond includes two propositions: one addressing building maintenance and the other completing additive facility updates. Proposition 1 can pass on its own, while Proposition 2 must pass with 1.
Proposition 1 is $22.15 million, and Proposition 2 is $55.85 million.
Proposition 1 addresses maintenance upgrades, such as roof repairs and electrical upgrades.
District Superintendent Paul Defendini said the district buildings date back to the 1960s, and many of the roofs and electrical units have not been replaced since.
“Both, the electrical upgrades specifically, are original to the buildings and are just in desperate need of repair at this point in time,” Defendini said.
Repairs will take place at every school in the district if passed.
“This project would call for the renovation of all the roofs and all the electrical systems district-wide,” Defendini said.
He said the school has focused on energy-based projects recently. If the roofing is replaced, he said the school could implement solar panels to go completely off-the-grid for its energy.
Defendini said Proposition 2 has three components. It aims to improve safety and security as well as the Career and Technical Education and Fine and Performing Arts departments.
All components of Proposition 2 will be located at the high school, Defendini said.
“Safety and security is a priority for us,” he said. “And there’s so much traffic at Farmingdale High School, and there’s so much traffic through our nurse’s office.”
The proposition would move the nurse’s office to the front of the building and rebuild the security vestibule. This would decrease foot traffic throughout the school, Defendini said.
The other components of Proposition 2 include renovations to the Career and Technical Education and Fine and Performing Arts spaces.
“I know that other school districts over the last several decades have sort of moved away from Career and Technical Education,” Defendini said.
“We’ve had it for a number of years, and we’re proud that we’re able to hold onto what we had, but those are other spaces that are in need of renovation.”
The Career and Technical Education course offerings include building construction, automotive maintenance and repair, welding and metal fabrication, first responders training, early childhood learning and business education.
Some of the spaces are 70 years old, which means students do not have access to modern features or components of their area of study, Defendini said.
Defendini said the district wants to “[build] spaces that are conducive” to the modern labor market.
With CTE course offerings and certifications, students can choose to begin their career paths out of high school. Many students enrolled in CTE courses pursue a four-year degree after high school in a related field as well, Defendini said.
The arts programming at Farmingdale has grown in recent years, Defendini said.
The Fine and Performing Arts course offerings include band, orchestra, choir, music theory, drawing and painting and fashion design.
In recent years, Defendini said the music offerings at the high school have seen increased participation.
“We’re glad that we have a very successful band, orchestra and chorus program,” Defendini said.
He said there are approximately 750 students enrolled in music programs at the high school, which accounts for approximately 50% of the student body.
Districtwide, almost 70% of students are enrolled in the fine and performing arts program, Defendini said.
He said the department has “outgrown the space” it currently operates from.
“We can’t fit our marching band in the band room,” he said.
The department needs more storage for instruments, equipment and technology necessary as well.
Some of the spaces in the department are 70 years old, Defendini said.
“At some point in time, you got to address it,” he said.
Defendini said the athletic spaces were upgraded in recent years after the previous school bond was passed.
“Our athletic field, our facilities: top notch,” he said.
He said the district timed the project to align with state aid to mitigate costs for residents.
“Here in Farmingdale, we get the benefit of 55% of the total project cost is payed for through state sources,” Defendini said.
The average estimated tax impact per household is $70 per year, he said.
“We tried to be reasonable to our community,” he said.
The community will vote on Jan. 7 regarding the two prepositions. Voting will take place in the Welldone E. Howitt Middle School gymnasium from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“This is our opportunity to make an investment in those programs,” Defendini said.
