Glen Cove Superintendent of Schools Dr. Larry Aronstein opened the board of education meeting of Monday, Sept. 22 with a recommendation that the board consider a bond referendum for the purpose of funding a number of capital projects in district schools.

Dr. Aronstein has repeatedly said that the physical condition of the school buildings has been sorely ignored for a very long time, a point borne out most recently by the repeated flooding of the high school gym and other areas in the building. The superintendent stated that the necessary improvements would cost a significant amount of money and he is proposing a bond in the amount of $14 million. The referendum would offer voters an opportunity to approve or reject the bond, and might be held in early December.

Asked by this reporter why the superintendent was considering a vote on the referendum at a separate time from the May school budget and election of trustees vote, Dr. Aronstein offered a number of reasons.

"It can take 22 weeks for projects to receive approval from the state board of education. Most of the work has to be done during the summer months and making the request in December will give us an opportunity to get a jump on the projects," he said, adding that it could take up to two years to complete all the earmarked work.

Dr. Aronstein said that having a bond issue on the ballot with a school budget can affect the budget vote. For example, if a voter comes to vote specifically on the bond issue, the budget becomes secondary, and the two items should be considered separately.

"If you combine the bond with a trustee election," the superintendent continued, "it can become a galvanizing issue," with candidates running on a platform based solely on the bond. "Voters should vote on the issues a candidate believes in; it should not be based on a cult of personality," he said.

On a more practical level, Dr. Aronstein said that considering the status of the economy, he believes that contractors are in need of work and that the district should be able to get good bids on the projects. Noting that it is unfortunate, he added, "In this case, the status of the economy works in our favor and we can get a lot for our money."

Dr. Aronstein noted that it is his understanding that the Glen Cove School District is currently the only district on Long Island with no outstanding debt, the last bond issue being passed in 1988. This is to the district's advantage, and a bond could be obtained with a rate of approximately 4.5 percent interest over 15 years, with 27.3 percent returned through state aid. This translates to a cost of $101 per year per homeowner. Dr. Aronstein commented that with the current economic downturn, "state aid could well be frozen for this year," or "certainly cut big time next year," leaving the district with less discretionary funds and forcing it to do without capital improvements "for a number of years."

The superintendent stated that a 1992 facility plan had identified 22 priority items that needed addressing, and to date, five have been fulfilled, all within the last five years. During an eight-year period, all prior to the current administration, four school budgets were defeated, meaning that no capital improvements or renovations could be made.

In December of 2007, the board appointed a Capital Deficiencies Advisory Committee to assess and prioritize the district's needs. The proposed bond would address the most important, or "Priority A," recommendations with the aim of improving safety, avoiding further deterioration and establishing adherence to building codes.

While acknowledging the uncertain status of the economy, Dr. Aronstein reiterated the fact that without extensive repair, the district's facilities will continue to deteriorate. In addition, with the future status of possible tax caps and state aid, the district will have limited means of coping with potential emergencies.

Proposed capital projects would include work at all school buildings, some much more than others, as well as repairs at the Carriage House and Thayer House and extend from roofs to floors to air conditioning.

Dr. Aronstein's presentation concluded with a statement that, "We are sensitive to the serious financial constraints of our taxpayers. We need to balance the needs of our school system with the realities of our taxpayers' limitations. Our hope is to ensure that this generation of children will experience the same high quality experience that previous generations have enjoyed."

A public hearing on the issue will be held at the next board of education meeting on Monday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school. Additionally, an informational public presentation will be made and tours of the facilities will be made available to the public during this period. At the BOE meeting of Monday, Oct. 20, the board will vote.

Comments from board members were in concert with much of what Dr. Aronstein was proposing. Richard Tortorici stated that he was on the board in 1988 when the district bonded $5 million and "pared down" much of what needed to be done. Twenty years later, he said, the needs were still not fulfilled and he did not feel the district could wait another 20 years. "I don't see how we cannot support a bond," he said.

Doug Brown said he has always been opposed to a bond, but considering the "really bad condition" of the facilities, he believes the district should "get these items done. It is a long list we won't have money for without a bond." He added that the district should look to do just what is "absolutely essential."

Board President Dr. Kurt Schmeller said that while it is "great that we have no debt," that also indicates that "much has not been done."

Board member Joel Sunshine was a member of the Capital Deficiencies Advisory Committee before his election to the BOE. Mr. Sunshine said he believes that if members of the community had seen what the committee members had, "I would say that 90 percent would agree" that capital improvements are necessary. He encouraged anyone concerned that these items might be "frivolous" to attend the scheduled presentations.

The board members who spoke also cited the consideration of liabilities attached to deteriorating buildings, as well as the value of Glen Cove's real estate.

Longtime resident and involved citizen Chuck Bondar reminded the board and audience of the adage that "Those that ignore history are doomed to repeat it" and described his experience in 2001 when he was part of a committee that went through every part of every building, looking to identify deficiencies. It turned out to be an "exercise in futility" he said, despite the fact that the committee pronounced, "If we don't do something, it will all fall down." And now the sky is falling, he added.

Mr. Bondar's remark was quite apropos in that a serious issue currently facing the district is the critical condition of the high school roof. Resident Rick Smith has been critical of the administration's decision that the high school roof needs replacement, which Dr. Aronstein has established through information received from engineers, roofing experts and the manufacturer of the current roof that it does. Mr. Smith asserts that parts of the roof need repair, but not full replacement. Over the summer, Mr. Smith, accompanied by Director of School Facilities, Operations and Maintenance Guy Forman had taken local contractor Drew Lawrence to visit the high school roofs, and had reported to the board that Mr. Lawrence agreed with his assessment that the roof does not need replacement and declared the school roof to be in "excellent condition." Mr. Smith had cited "lack of maintenance" as one main cause of the leakage at a prior board meeting. At Monday's meeting, he continued to question the administration's decision, stating after the meeting that not all reports were given to the public.

Following comments from Mr. Smith, Dr. Aronstein read from a letter he received from Mr. Lawrence, which said in part that the contractor "agreed with the diagnosis that the [high school] roofs do need replacement. At no time did I indicate that the roofs were in 'excellent condition.'" The letter also stated that, "Comments regarding 6 inches of soil and complete lack of maintenance are also unfounded as depicted in the [enclosed] pictures."

Zefy Christopoulos, who has seen the high school gym in chaotic flooding, stood to comment. She began by stating she was "very disappointed that two weeks ago the board of education had a golden opportunity to see the high school with rain pouring outside and inside and through electrical wiring," yet not one member chose to see the conditions firsthand. This reporter had emailed each board member after visiting the high school herself during a rainstorm to ask if any had done so, but received no response.

Ms. Christopoulos said that there was a visiting volleyball team on that rainy day, and it was embarrassing to have them see the condition of the high school. She praised the custodial crew for a "phenomenal job" in rigging up tarps to prevent further damage to the gym.

"We have no debt," she said, "but we have no roof. It is incumbent upon the current board of education to get the job done." She reminded the board of "one asset we forgot to mention - the students who are under that roof. It's time to take a stand and show that we are proud of our school, its staff and our students." Ms. Christopoulos' comments received a round of applause.

The Capital Deficiencies Advisory Committee report can be reviewed on the Glen Cove School District website, www.glencove.k12.ny.us. Residents are encouraged to attend the public hearing and BOE meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the high school.