N. Bellmore schools seek $8.79M bond

The North Bellmore Board of Education recently approved a resolution to present a nearly $8.8 million bond referendum to residents for repairs at all six district schools on March 24.

School officials said the bond amount is roughly $30 million lower than one that voters narrowly defeated in 2008. The first bond vote followed two years of deliberations by the district’s Facilities Committee.

A district release states, "It is important to note that the additional cost to the taxpayer will be minimal. In addition to paying off an old, expiring bond, the cost of which has been included in the budget for the past 16 years, there are factors that would keep the cost very low. These include historically low interest rates, state aid of 54 percent on the cost of construction costs, and the energy cost savings the district would realize through planned energy updates."

If approved, the bond would finance:

oReplacement of boilers at Martin Avenue, Newbridge Road, Park Avenue and Saw Mill Road elementary schools.

oUpgrade of electrical work at Dinkelmeyer Elementary School.

oFloor tile replacement at all six district elementary schools. These include any floors where asbestos floor tiles are loose or require replacement owing to health and safety reasons.

oReplacement of the original interior and exterior doors and locks on all buildings, which would enable them to be secured in a lockdown.

District officials are planning a series of bond workshops, open to all residents. They include:

oTuesday, March 2, 6:30 p.m., Dinkelmeyer School.

oGunther School, 8 p.m.

oThursday, March 4, 6:30 p.m., Newbridge Road School.

o8 p.m., Saw Mill Road School.

oWednesday, March 10, 6:30 p.m., Martin Avenue School.

o8 p.m., Park Avenue School.

oTuesday, March 16, Bond Fair, 6-8 p.m., Newbridge Road School.

The bond vote will be held Wednesday, March 24, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Newbridge Road School.

Comments about this story? Sbrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.