West Hempstead BOE adopts bond resolution

The West Hempstead School District Board of Education unanimously adopted a bond resolution to present a reduced capital project bond referendum to the community for a vote on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the West Hempstead Middle School cafeteria.

After much deliberation, the proposed bond, totaling $35,570,029, represents a reduction of approximately $10.9 million from the original bond defeated last year on Nov. 17. If approved, the cost to the average homeowner would be approximately $285.13 per year.

“These are our schools, our children and our community,” said Board of Education President Karen Brohm. “As Board members, we believe we have a responsibility to our community to ensure that our schools are repaired and preserved, our children receive a quality education, and our community has a school district we can all be proud of.”

During the past several months, the Board of Education and administration held several community meetings where they listened to residents’ opinions, carefully analyzed the critical infrastructural needs of each school with the district’s architect, and discussed every available financial option to further reduce the cost to taxpayers.

In the weeks before the March 15 vote, the Board and administration plan to host several building tours to enable residents to see first-hand the areas that require immediate repairs and renovations.

The reduced scope of work included in the proposed bond addresses the most critical items listed in the district’s five-year facilities plan, which are: bathroom renovations to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; installation of an emergency generator at West Hempstead High School; renovation of the high school library into a Library Learning Center; renovations at Chestnut Avenue School, including the complete renovation of the former public library space to provide needed additional instruction and support services; renovations to the high school band, orchestra and chorus rooms to better accommodate the music curriculum for both middle school and high school students; renovation of 12 science rooms and adjoining prep rooms into science/STEM labs to support the current curriculum; renovation of the family and consumer science classroom at the high school; renovation of the middle school’s tech lab and family and consumer science classroom/computer room, and more.

Additional information regarding the details of the bond will be provided in the coming weeks, the school district announced. All residents are being asked by the district to attend upcoming building tours, which will be announced soon.