Clarkstown School Trustees Bring $110M Upgrade Plan To Voters

CLARKSTOWN, NY — Residents in the Clarkstown school district will vote Oct. 8 on a $110 plan for facility upgrades in all nine elementary schools plus the Birchwood School in West Nyack.

The bond proposal from the Board of Education is tax-neutral, meaning the district would not need to raise additional tax revenue to support the large-scale improvement project, officials said.

District officials said they have extensively reviewed all facilities to ensure the schools meet the programmatic and health and safety needs of all students and staff.

“The timing of this capital project is key as we retire debt and look to finance the improvements by maximizing the availability of State building aid,” said Superintendent of Schools Marc Baiocco, Ed.D. “This project looks to the future, continuing to provide safe, healthy learning environments for our students with no additional tax impact on our residents.”

Given the district's average building age of 61 years, proposed improvements include electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems which, in some cases, have outlived their anticipated life expectancy and are no longer cost-efficient to operate. Similarly, windows and flooring will be replaced after many years of regular use.

Also, district officials pointed out, fresh air and classroom temperature have a direct impact on student learning and personal growth. The goal is to provide Clarkstown students and staff with an educational environment that is both comfortable and healthy.

Officials strategically planned for the referendum to address critical facility needs by timing the new bond with the expiration of debt from previous projects. This tactic will provide CCSD with an opportunity to complete a great deal of necessary work without the need to raise additional taxes, the trustees said.

The trustees adopted the resolution Aug. 8.

If approved by voters and once vetted by the State Education Department, construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2026 and be completed in summer 2031. It probably would be scheduled as a series of two-year stages within the five-year period. Electrical and infrastructure upgrades will likely be scheduled for the first year of each stage, followed by HVAC, flooring and window renovations the following year.

The most-recent Building Condition Survey identified $240 million in needed capital work across the District.

"Feedback gathered from the District’s Fall 2023 ThoughtExchange indicated that our community is passionate about the safety, health and well-being of our students and staff. The proposed scope of work would begin to address priority items in the District’s long-range facility plan which are important to community members," officials said in a FAQ on the website.

The second phase, which would include improvements to Felix Festa Middle School, Clarkstown High School North and Clarkstown High School South, will require a separate vote in the future.

Polls will be open Oct. 8 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the following locations:

• District 1: Street Community Center, 31 Zukor Road, New City, New York
• District 2: Congers Community Center (Upper Level), 8 Gilchrest Road, Congers, New York
• District 3: Chestnut Grove Administration Center, 62 Old Middletown Road, New City, New York
• District 4: Clarkstown Reformed Church, 107 Strawtown Road, West Nyack, New York

For additional information, visit ccsd.edu.