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Fair $30 million school bond referendum passes in O.B.
It’s official. The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District will experience 21st century improvements at all three of its schools with Tuesday’s passage of a roughly $30 million school bond referendum. Residents voted in favor of the bond with 423 voting yes, and 232 voting against it. OBEN School Board President Laurie Kowalsky said the number of residents that voted is consistent with how many typically cast a ballot when bonds are put before the public for approval.
The passage of the bond is exciting, she said, because so many improvements are needed at all three schools.
“I think the community realizes that we need this,” she added. “Other schools have already done these big bonds. We are really lacking and couldn’t [make improvements] without the bond being passed.”
Residents will not see a tax increase. And because a bond for $15.5 million has expired, the new bond can be secured without changing the debt service, which is $2.2 million annually. And the interest rate will be low too, at 1.5 percent.
“This will be great for the community and the schools,” said Dr. Francesco Ianni, the district’s superintendent. “We are bringing our schools to the next level with this bond.”
Roosevelt Elementary will be extended, which Kowalsky said is desperately needed. With an increase in the student population additional classrooms need added. The need is so great that currently the school’s performance stage is being utilized as little classrooms.
And the plan to extend the music wing at Vernon will be much appreciated too, she added. The district began offering orchestra in 2020, the last district in Nassau County to do so. More performance space is needed to accommodate the increased number of students participating in music, Kowalsky said. Currently, chairs from the cafeteria are removed each morning so the room can be used by band or orchestra members. Then the chairs are put back up in preparation for lunchtime.
Other improvements at Vernon will include renovations to the cafeteria, and the Butler building, an upgrade of the doors and the addition of safety glass in the main office.
The first project to be completed this summer will be the addition of a multi-sport turf field behind the high school, which will be used for football, softball field hockey and soccer. The newly renovated gym, which is air conditioned, fairly new tennis courts and the turf field will create an athletic complex, which elite private schools have, Ianni said.
A broadcasting studio will also be added at the high school and an innovative lab. There are plans to renovate the library, three classrooms and enhance the entrance on the side of the building. Windows will be repaired and doors upgraded too.
Work at Vernon and Roosevelt will begin in 2023, which is year when the bulk of all of the work will be accomplished. Ianni predicts that the completion of the projects will take between nine and 12 months.
