Peekskill Schools Plan Big Improvements

PEEKSKILL, NY — The city's Board of Education will put a plan for district-wide school improvements before voters on Oct. 7. The projects have been organized so that district officials estimate there will be no tax increase.

The projects will go to the voters in two bundles.

Proposition No. 1 includes a series of upgrades at all district buildings: a new STEAM Innovation Center at Peekskill High School, a STEAM Exploration Lab at Hillcrest Elementary, and a new turf field stadium at Torpy Field, as well as needed security door replacements, ventilation and air-conditioning, water, electrical and roof work.

Proposition No. 2 covers the purchase of 400 South Division St. as a new location for the district's Operation and Maintenance Department, Central Registration, Transportation Department and Parent Resource Center.

Space and storage for those departments is now at Peekskill High School, where the center for Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and the Arts would go. District officials propose using money from the fund balance to buy the building at $350,000 and spend $50,000 for minor renovations.

The work in the first proposition totals $10.6 million. The district expects to receive building aid for these proposed projects at an estimated rate of 83 percent. This aid, combined with the fact that the district is retiring debt, would allow the tax impact to be offset, resulting in no estimated tax increase, officials said.

Find out more on the district's website.