Carle Place schools community forum Thursday on $16M bond proposal
One of the propositions would allow for the construction of five classrooms at Cherry Lane Elementary to house an expanded pre-K program. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp
Carle Place residents will have a chance to weigh in on a pair of capital improvement projects Thursday, ahead of a $16 million bond vote later this month.
The bond proposal, to go before voters Oct. 24, is split into two projects, including $10 million to upgrade the middle and high schools' aging HVAC systems, and $6 million toward expanding the Cherry Lane Elementary School building to increase the number of seats in the district’s prekindergarten program.
“After 35 years, the middle school, high school HVAC system is coming to an end of its useful life, so it is essential for us to get the funding to replace that now,” Superintendent Ted Cannone said Wednesday. “On the second proposition, community advocacy is strong for a full-fledged UPK program … I also recognize that some residents would prefer not to expand UPK at this time, and that’s why we’re giving everyone a chance to vote.”
Before that vote, a final community forum on the bond proposal will be held Thursday at 8 p.m. at Carle Place High School, 168 Cherry Lane.
At the polls, the pre-K expansion proposition is contingent on the community’s approval of the first proposal, officials noted.
The average family would see an annual school tax increase of $77.77 if both propositions passed, according to presentations led by Joanna DeMartino, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. If only the HVAC proposition passed, the increase would be about $12.82.
Officials estimated that the HVAC upgrade will cost around $13 million, and the district will use $3 million from a reserve account to cover a portion of the expense.
The pre-K expansion would increase the number of seats from 18 to about 90, officials said. Cannone noted this is the first year Carle Place has offered a pre-K program, which is currently housed at the high school. Proposition 2 would allow for the construction of five classrooms at the elementary school to house the pre-K program.
If approved, work on the HVAC system could start in July, while construction at the elementary school would begin in 2026.
The voting on Oct. 24 will be held from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the high school.
