School security upgrades at stake in Oceanside bond vote

In the wake of incidents like the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, many Nassau County school districts are planning to increase security measures. According to Superintendent Phyllis Harrington, Oceanside is one of those districts.

At its meeting on Nov. 19, schoool officials proposed a 15-year, $30 million bond referendum that, they say, would cost the average district household about $9.13 per month — $109.58 per year over the life of the bond.

The school board will vote on the proposal at its meeting on Friday, and the anticipated date of the public vote is Feb. 11.

Of the $30 million, $2.6 million would be earmarked for security upgrades, but a large chunk of the $22.4 million allocated for infrastructure could be considered part of the new security plan as well. For example, officials explained, the installation of new solid-core doors and high-security classroom hardware would be funded as infrastructure.

The security upgrades, which are planned for every building in the district, include interior and exterior cameras, access controls, panic alarms, strobes and public address system interlocks.

District officials say that its facilities are in need of significant repairs and upgrades. Funding capital projects under the state’s tax cap is no longer an option, they say: Trying to fund the upgrades with tax levy money would mean “significant” cuts to educational programs.

Administrators say that spreading the cost over the 15-year life of the bond will allow them to systematically increase security in building throughout the district.