Farmingdale Superintendent Addresses Bond Vote Results, Roof Upgrades

FARMINGDALE, NY — After mixed results from the Farmingdale School District bond vote held Tuesday — one proposition passed while the second failed — Superintendent Paul Defendini addressed the community.

"Our team at Farmingdale Schools sincerely thanks the Farmingdale community for their continued support," Defendini told Patch on Thursday. "With your help, we successfully passed Proposition #1, enabling us to begin essential roof renovations. Your support means so much to us, and we truly appreciate it."

Proposition One — worth $22.15 million — will allow for districtwide roof repairs and replacements, as well as electric capacity upgrades. The proposition passed with 1,202 yes votes and 1,089 no votes.

State aid will pay for approximately 55 percent of the bond — approximately $12.18 million —Defendini said.

The second proposition — worth $55.85 million — would have allowed the development of a state-of-the-art Career and Technical Education Center at the high school, as well as the enhancement of the Fine and Performing Arts facilities.

Work on roofing renovations will begin "immediately," Defendini said, and the district will provide updates on its progress in the coming months.

"This project also presents an exciting opportunity to complete the final solar initiative needed for the district to achieve energy independence," Defendini said. "One of our long-term goals has been to remove our schools from the electric grid, and your support is helping us make that vision a reality."

Voters rejected Proposition Two with 1,326 no votes and 952 yes votes, according to the district.

The Farmingdale High School Career and Technical Education Center would have included six components: a two-story building construction program that would educate students on how to build a home; automotive maintenance and repair; welding and metal fabrication; a first responders training center; an early childhood learning center; and business education.
The six programs would have been offered as electives for high school students.

If Proposition Two passed, three musical education rooms— the band, orchestra and chorus spaces — would have been renovated and expanded. The district also planned to renovate its drawing, painting and fashion design classrooms.

"The Board of Education will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the results together and decide on our plans moving forward," Defendini said. "Again, thank you to our community for your support."

Farmingdale residents approved a $36 million bond in 2016 for the Sports Complex and Aquatic Center at Howitt Middle School, which opened years later.