Wantagh voters approve boiler replacement

Turnout was dismal on Oct. 23 as voters came out to approve the use of $800,000 from the Wantagh Union Free School District’s capital reserve fund. The proposition passed by a vote of 249 to 33, and will enable the district to replace the three boilers at Wantagh Middle School.

“The district will now be able to submit the project to the New York State Education Department for their review in November, providing ample time to secure the state’s approval and to award a bid this spring,” Superintendent John McNamara said in the news release. “We anticipate completing the boiler replacements during the summer months.”

This past May, voters approved the creation of a capital-reserve fund that could total $7.5 million. The proposition authorized the district to “set aside funds as needed to pay for security enhancements and building and site improvements.”

The district’s board of education approved the funds of $800,000 expenditure in June, paving the way for last week’s vote.

The project will not require will an increase in the tax levy, according to the release. The district may spend no more than the amount approved by voters, and the money must be spent on the boilers.

“A capital reserve is the only state approved mechanism that allows schools districts to set aside funds for future capital improvement projects,” according to the release. Major repairs, acquisitions or construction and capital improvements are included under capital reserve-approved projects.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, I thank the Wantagh community for continuing to support our school district,” Wantagh Board of Education President Peter Mountanos said. “Through their approval of the capital reserve proposition, we will be able to move forward with the replacement of the original boilers at Wantagh Middle School. Once the replacement plans have been submitted to and approved by the New York State Department of Education and bids have been awarded, we are confident that the work will begin in summer 2019, avoiding any unnecessary disruption of the school day.”