Chappaqua School Budget Plan Includes Security Vestibules

CHAPPAQUA, NY — Voters in the Chappaqua school district will be going to the polls May 21 to have their say on the district and library budgets for the 2019-20 school year. There are several propositions on the ballot.

The proposed spending package is $126,152,188, up 2.93% percent from the current year. The tax levy increase is 0.94% percent, below the state's property tax cap. Tax rates are estimated to increase by 0.66% for residents in the Town of New Castle, and to increase by 1.63% for residents in the Town of Mt. Pleasant.

The Chappaqua Library proposes a spending plan of $3,176,254.

There are five people running for two seats on the Chappaqua Board of Education:

• Cailee Hwang
• Hilary Grasso
• Warren Messner (incumbent)
• Jeffrey Mester (incumbent)
• Leah Heiss

Lane Shea is running unopposed for the seat on the library Board of Trustees.

In addition to voting on the proposed school budget and the proposed Chappaqua Public Library budget, and electing two Board of Education members and one library trustee, there also will be two ballot propositions.

Proposition 1 seeks voter approval to transfer up to $190,000 from the Fund Balance in the School District Lunch Fund as of June 30, 2019 to the capital fund to pay for the costs to renovate the cafeteria at Robert E. Bell Middle School.. The district is not seeking any additional money. The project would include certain alteration, reconstruction, and renovation work, including replacement of equipment and removal of a wall. This redesign of the serving line area will improve functionality and traffic flow as well as provide for a faster and more enjoyable dining experience.

Proposition 2 addresses safety and security issues at the three elementary and two middle schools, maximum expenditure of $1,350,000: specifically, each elementary and middle school will have a security vestibule with two sets of locked doors with shatter-resistant glass. Visitors would first be “buzzed” into a holding area where they would engage with security personnel and produce identification. Upon further vetting, visitors would then be buzzed past the second set of locked doors with bullet-resistant glass in order to enter into the school

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Horace Greeley High School gym.

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