School bond defeated

Residents of the Rockville Centre school district today defeated a proposed $31.8 million bond that would have financed renovations to South Side High School.

In unofficial results, with all ballots counted moments after polls closed at 9 p.m. in the school’s gym, there were 1,465 votes against the bond and 1,021 in favor of it.

“I’m thankful for the help of the Board of Education and a very diligent campaign of awareness built by many dedicated individuals,” said John Randazzo, a member of the Rockville Centre Tea Party and a group called Residents for Responsible Spending that had campaigned against the bond.

“The residents have voiced their will and the voting process reflects the will of the people,” he added. “We’re quite pleased with the outcome.”

School officials, including South Side High School Principal Dr. Carol Burris expressed their dismay.

“I think I speak for the entire faculty when I say we’re terribly disappointed,” Burris said. “We strongly believe that our students deserve improved facilities. Unfortunately, the problems are not going to go away.”

What I think is lost in this...,” said school Superintendent Dr. William Johnson, “so many of the issues focused on things other than that these are our children and the spaces in which they’re going to be educated. It’s a sad day for the kids of Rockville Centre.”

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