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Light Drizzle Fog/Mist No revote for school bond
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Residents who completed a survey on the bond opposed a revote by a four-vote margin, 567 to 563. District officials said the intensity of residents' comments, though, convinced them not to put the measure up for a vote again. Comments about tough economic times and difficulties making ends meet weighed heavily in the decision, board President Grace Cramsie said.
"Passions were on the side of not putting the bond up again," said North Bellmore Superintendent of Schools Arnold Goldstein. "This isn't the time to put up the bond again. We will consider it in the future."
Voters defeated a $38.9 million school bond issue in October. The plan failed by an 83-vote margin, 564 no to 481 yes, a low turnout in a district with 8,000 homes.
The financing was to address long-awaited repairs and various upgrades to the district's six elementary schools, which serve grades kindergarten through six in North Bellmore and part of North Merrick. The need to fix the buildings came to light in a state-required facilities assessment in the spring of 2006. That report found that the district's oldest school, the 85-year-old Newbridge Road School, was in "unsatisfactory" condition, and the other five schools also needed repairs.
If the bond had passed, the district expected to recoup all of the interest and part of its principal through state aid reimbursements. Officials also planned to repay additional principal with dollars no longer earmarked for debt service that will be retired in 2010.
During bond presentations in the fall, Goldstein voiced concern about the possibility of losing the current level of state funding in light of growing economic pressures. "[W]e may lose the opportunity to have the state pay off 54 percent of the loan," Goldstein said at the time. "That would be a real loss for the taxpayer and for our children."
Goldstein also pointed out that North Bellmore was not alone in seeking a bond issue. He said many Long Island school districts were doing so because the financing made sense. "A bond maximizes the number of projects you can complete in a short period of time and minimizes the annual cost," he said. "You can get a lot done quickly at minimal cost."
With bond financing out of the picture for now, Goldstein said, "The safety of our children is our top priority. Money will have to be included in our budgets for contingencies," he said. "We will have to take some of that out of instructional" budget.
Voicing her frustration, Trustee Nina Lanci said that if she won the Mega Millions jackpot, she would endow it to the district to fix the buildings.
District administrators and the board plan to outline a five-year plan for prioritizing the repairs and capital improvements that are still needed, Goldstein said. The next meeting of the North Bellmore Board of Education will be Thursday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. at Martin Avenue School.
Comments about this story? nhiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
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"Passions were on the side of not putting the bond up again," said North Bellmore Superintendent of Schools Arnold Goldstein. "This isn't the time to put up the bond again. We will consider it in the future."
Voters defeated a $38.9 million school bond issue in October. The plan failed by an 83-vote margin, 564 no to 481 yes, a low turnout in a district with 8,000 homes.
The financing was to address long-awaited repairs and various upgrades to the district's six elementary schools, which serve grades kindergarten through six in North Bellmore and part of North Merrick. The need to fix the buildings came to light in a state-required facilities assessment in the spring of 2006. That report found that the district's oldest school, the 85-year-old Newbridge Road School, was in "unsatisfactory" condition, and the other five schools also needed repairs.
If the bond had passed, the district expected to recoup all of the interest and part of its principal through state aid reimbursements. Officials also planned to repay additional principal with dollars no longer earmarked for debt service that will be retired in 2010.
Goldstein also pointed out that North Bellmore was not alone in seeking a bond issue. He said many Long Island school districts were doing so because the financing made sense. "A bond maximizes the number of projects you can complete in a short period of time and minimizes the annual cost," he said. "You can get a lot done quickly at minimal cost."
With bond financing out of the picture for now, Goldstein said, "The safety of our children is our top priority. Money will have to be included in our budgets for contingencies," he said. "We will have to take some of that out of instructional" budget.
Voicing her frustration, Trustee Nina Lanci said that if she won the Mega Millions jackpot, she would endow it to the district to fix the buildings.
District administrators and the board plan to outline a five-year plan for prioritizing the repairs and capital improvements that are still needed, Goldstein said. The next meeting of the North Bellmore Board of Education will be Thursday, Feb. 12, at 8 p.m. at Martin Avenue School.
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