Glen Cove School District Revises Bond, Again

GLEN COVE, NY—The Glen Cove City School District once again hopes to pass a significant bond referendum that it said would help end the state of disrepair plaguing its school buildings.

“It’s time that we make a lot of needed improvements in our school district," Gail Nedbor-Gross, the district's board president, said in a YouTube video published Thursday. "Our schools have not been up to code, and it’s time.”

In October, to the school district's disappointment, voters rejected two bond referendums that would have funded major improvement projects to city schools. At the time, the district estimated that the first bond proposal would have cost the average homeowner with a $500,000 home $24.58 a month for 15 years. The second bond referendum was estimated to have cost that same homeowner $10.77 a month during that period.

“We heard the community in saying that it’s just too much at this time, but we also feel it’s important to address these issues," Rose Sekelsky, a board trustee, stressed. "They’re not going away. The costs will only increase."

The rejections to both recent bond referendums forced district officials to go back to the drawing board. In the newly uploaded video, they say they've listened to the community and have revised their plans. According to Board Trustee Lia Leone, she believes voters will be pleased with the revisions to the bond.

“I hope that the community looks at this bond and that it brings us together," she said. “We really looked at what was in those two other bonds and narrowed it down to the essentials."

District officials say the bond is desperately needed because their school buildings, which are between 70 and 110 years, are not up to code and in need of repairs.

“Our buildings are very old, and they haven’t changed in all these years. We have children who can't get to a toilet if they are in a wheelchair. We have fire escapes that are rusted so badly that no one dares to step on them," Karen Ferguson, a board trustee, said.

If the bond is approved, it would pay for new HVAC for much needed air circulation, climate control and compliance with SED student health requirements. Elevators would also be installed at Deasy and bathroom renovations made to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

The bond would also include security components, such as new, code-compliant interior classroom doors and auto locking hardware; new, code-compliant exterior doors (where needed) with new locking hardware.

“Unfortunately, we are in a position now that we have to be able to do a lockdown for our children. In order to do that, in an appropriate manner, we have to redo our doors, our windows," Mary Murphy, a board trustee, said.

If approved, the bond would also pave the way new HVAC in order to eliminate window air conditioners, allowing windows to remain clocked and locked, according to district officials.

“Right now, we have to put mobile air conditions in rooms for students that require it and that becomes a fire and safety hazard. And without clean air circulating in there, we have to open windows, and that becomes another security issue," Board Trustee Robert Field said.

The bond, if passed, would also result in new science labs/rooms at the high school as well as classroom additions at Connolly, Deasy and Landing schools, school district officials said. The bond would also create dedicated space for music and art at Connolly, eliminate basement classrooms at Deasy and Landing, and allow district officials to make electrical upgrades to accommodate technology needs.

“We hope the community will realize that by taking care of our schools, you’re taking care of the community," Ferguson said.

Voters will vote "yes" or "no" on the bond on March 19 at Glen Cove High School and Connolly School from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

SEE ALSO:

• Glen Cove Voters Reject School Bonds; See Vote Totals