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Mostly Cloudy In need of repairs, Valley Stream's high school district eyes $40M bond
The Valley Stream Central High School District is considering a capital bond referendum to fund roof replacements as well as classroom and bathroom upgrades, and to potentially add artificial-turf fields at each of its schools.
“These are some of the best-kept schools in Long Island,” Wayne Loper, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, said during a presentation on July 12. He insisted that the need for repairs shouldn’t imply that the schools are in bad shape.
Capital bonds, which are like home improvement loans for schools, are being issued by school districts across New York state so they can cost-effectively upgrade infrastructure and take advantage of low-interest rates. The VSCHSD passed a capital bond in the 1990s that was paid off. District 13 approved a capital bond in December and began renovations this summer, and District 24 has discussed putting up a bond for work to ease classroom crowding.
“It’s time,” Loper said. “Technology and instruction has changed, and it’s time to think about replacing some of our aging classrooms.”
The roofing upgrades are at the top of the list, according to Loper, with all four buildings’ roofs exceeding their life expectancies in the next few years. In his proposal, he said that exterior masonry work at Memorial Junior High School, district-wide science classroom improvements and bathroom renovations, extensive electrical upgrades and ventilation work would all need to be completed, whether or not the district decides to put up a bond.
Less urgent, Loper said, would be the upgrading of the district’s athletics fields. “I recommend the district consider putting turf fields in,” he said. “Our buildings are used on a daily basis — we can’t grow grass because we can’t stop using it. It’s a never-ending battle.”
The $8 million turf field component of the bond would include resurfacing the track at North High School, installation of a multi-sport field at South High School (the turf would be used for baseball and football) and a turf football field and track at MJHS, to be shared with Central High School.
When Loper mentioned the installation of turf fields, the discussion pivoted to health and safety concerns about the material. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in February that it would study artificial-turf fields made from recycled rubber tires to better understand any health risks in order to respond to those who question whether the turf may be carcinogenic.
“I would hope that this discussion tonight is not the definitive word on turf fields,” said school board Trustee Frank Chiachiere. “Because there is anecdotal data out there that worries me, as I know it worries you. I understand that the government has put its imprimatur on fields across the country. That’s not good enough for me.”
Superintendent Bill Heidenreich said that the decision to issue a bond would continue to be discussed, but that all the data currently suggests that the fields are safe.
“Right now, there have been no definitive studies that document that turf field is carcinogenic,” Heidenreich said. “Can something come out 10 or 15 years from now? I really don’t know. But when you look at the number of turf fields all across the nation, they are getting the green light from these federal agencies that they’re safe.”
Trustee William Stris said he wanted to hear more about the fiscal impact a bond would have on local taxpayers. The board voted to hear more information about capital projects on Aug. 30.
“I don’t want anybody to think we’re shoving it down your throat,” Loper said. “You have plenty of options. This is work that needs to be done, or at least considered.”
