Emergency Bond Vote Rejected In Port Chester

PORT CHESTER, NY — The $12.5 million bond project that would have provided emergency safety improvements at Port Chester Middle School was defeated by 83 votes Tuesday, Feb. 6. There were 993 votes against the bond and 940 in favor of the bond.

An announcement of the district’s website said the board of education will meet to discuss its next steps.

The board has the option of posting a second vote — either the same amount or with modifications — or can decide to repurpose the existing bond which passed in March 2017.

Superintendent Dr. Edward Kliszus thanks the community for sharing its thoughts on the matter.

“It is disappointing that there wasn’t higher participation,” he said. “Matters of this importance should be decided by a larger number of residents for the best outcome for our children and community.”

At the end of October 2017, the middle school was closed for several days due to a window overhang that broke away from the building.

Nearly 90 similar panels had to be shored up and safety bridges installed before the school was allowed to reopen.

The safety project would have resolved emergency safety concerns by removing the exterior concrete cantilevers, repairing pedestrian bridges and replacing stairwell fire safety doors.

Had the project been approved by voters, the school and district would have seen an annual 8 percent energy savings, due to replacement of 50-year-old single-pane windows with state-of-the-art energy-efficient insulated windows.

Photo credit: Google Maps.