Croton-Harmon Community Meeting Highlights Bond Referendum

From Croton-Harmon School District:

Croton-Harmon community members had an opportunity to tour the district’s three schools, as well as hear details and ask questions about the upcoming Oct. 18 capital project bond referendum, during a special meeting on Oct. 6.

Board of Education President Iris Bugliosi welcomed residents to the meeting and explained they would be hearing a summary of the proposal and its financial details. She also encouraged residents to continue the conversation leading up to the vote by reaching out to district administrators or attending board of education Black Cow Coffee Company meetings on Oct. 8 or Oct. 15 from 9-11 a.m.

Armand Quadrini of KSQ Architects summarized the proposed projects and total scope of the work at all three schools, which includes projects at the district office and transportation facility. According to Quadrini, the total amount of the proposed bond, $20.82 million, includes all associated costs. That amount was determined after the board of education reviewed the district’s five-year capital facilities plan, which includes projects totaling about $45 million, and whittled down the priorities at each building to reach the proposed plan.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Deborah O’Connell then discussed how the proposed work supports education, as well as the focus identified by the strategic coherence planning committee: “creative and critical thinking for problem-solving.” She also shared a video highlighting the proposed innovation and design lab at Pierre Van Cortlandt Middle School and library media center upgrades at Croton-Harmon High School, which she said would enable students to “take charge of their own learning.”

Assistant Superintendent for Business Diane Chaissan shared that, if approved, the new debt service associated with the bond would replace older debt service that is being paid off by the district and the tax levy would not increase. Chaissan also said the Oct. 18 vote will allow residents to weigh in on the creation of a capital reserve fund, which would be funded over the coming years up to $5 million. This fund, she said, could help pay for additional projects that were identified in the five-year building condition survey or projects identified through community input that are not part of the Oct. 18 referendum.

Following the presentations, community members asked board members, administrators and the architects questions about the proposal before Superintendent of Schools Dr. Edward R. Fuhrman Jr. closed the meeting and encouraged residents to continue asking questions in the days leading up to the vote. “I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight,” he said. “We [the administrators] consider it a privilege to serve the people of Croton-Harmon…and we want to hear what people have to say.”

The Croton-Harmon School District’s bond referendum will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Croton-Harmon High School (36 Old Post Road South, Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520).

Further information is available through the school district website.

Photos courtesy of Croton-Harmon School District