Peekskill Voters OK School Improvement Propositions

PEEKSKILL, NY — Peekskill voters approved two district proposals Tuesday worth $11 million. The projects won’t raise taxes, according to district officials.

The Board of Education had broken a broad plan into two parts. Both were approved.

The vote for Proposition 1 passed with 575 "yes" votes to 107 "no" votes. Voters authorized spending up to $10.6 million on a lot of building improvements, from water systems to steel doors; and on new up-to-date instructional space at Peekskill High School for science, technology, arts, engineering and math.

The vote for Proposition 2 passed with 501 "yes" votes to 161 "no" votes. Now the district will buy and renovate 400 South Division St. at a total cost not to exceed $400,000. All the district departments now using space at Peekskill High School — such as the Operation and Maintenance Department, Central Registration, Transportation Department and Parent Resource Center — will move there.

Here are the resolutions as they appeared on the ballot:

PROPOSITION #1
SHALL the Bond Resolution of the City School District of the City of Peekskill, New York entitled: “Bond Resolution of the City School District of the City of Peekskill, New York, adopted August 6, 2019, authorizing the construction of alterations and improvements to District buildings and/or the sites thereof; stating the estimated total cost thereof is $10,600,000; appropriating said amount therefor; and authorizing the issuance of $10,600,000 serial bonds of said District to finance said appropriation” BE APPROVED?

PROPOSITION #2
Shall the Board of Education be authorized to acquire by purchase certain property located at 400 South Division Street, Peekskill, New York and designated as Parcel 33.38-1-1, consisting of land and structures at a cost not to exceed $350,000 in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in a written agreement on file with the District Clerk and to expend $50,000 for the redevelopment and/or renovation of the said property, including all labor, materials, equipment, apparatus, and incidental costs thereof, with a total cost not to exceed $400,000 for the purchase and renovation of said property?

Editor's Note: Only one of the two propositions approved by voters Oct. 7 includes the routine method school districts use to raise money for capital projects - through issuing bonds. Voters approved borrowing up to $10.6 million for Proposition One, which includes creating a STEAM Exploration Lab at Hillcrest Elementary School, a STEAM Innovation Center at Peekskill High School, a new turf field stadium at Torpy Field, as well as other building upgrades. The total amount was incorrect in the original version of this report. Patch regrets the error.