Residents of the Hicksville community will take to the polls on Wednesday, June 19 to vote for or against the school district's revised $38,960,000 bond referendum. The referendum was modified by the Hicksville Board of Education after residents defeated the first proposal of $41.8 million by 200 votes earlier this year.

Dr. Edward Finn, superintendent of Hicksville Schools, said the revised bond is different from the referendum held in March in that the voters are being presented with an opportunity to prioritize how they want to fund improvements in their schools. "It reflects the fact that the community spoke at the polls [in March] and said they want options, and in some cases, wanted some line items removed altogether from consideration," he said.

As a result, the bond proposal has been divided into two propositions, moving certain items into the annual budget and eliminating others altogether. As a result, the high school science room/laboratory and several roofing projects were removed from the bond and added to the annual budget. Elementary school kitchens were taken out of the bond completely, while other projects including fountains, asphalt and ceiling tiles were reduced in scope. The new bond also provides for the financing of computer equipment over a five-year period.

The new proposal is comprised of two propositions regarding capital projects. The first proposition will seek approval to borrow a little less than $33,250,000 for technology and facilities projects. The second proposition, which only becomes effective if voters approve both Proposition 1 and Proposition 2, seeks approval to borrow an additional $5,710,000 for improvements to the building facilities and grounds.

"This two tiered approach seeks to be responsive to the comments from the community," said Finn. "We wanted to respond to our taxpayers by prioritizing the infrastructure improvements so that the people who pay the bills can make the decisions...Suffice to say, we have sought to create two propositions that address the status of the district's facilities and a proposed expansion of technology [while] incorporating comments from the March referendum."

Finn added that the more people involved in making this decision, the larger the community's involvement in charting its own future. "We live in a world where people oppose us for offering that kind of freedom," he said. "While these propositions are important to the future of our schools., going to vote on these and other issues is ample proof that our democracy remains vibrant, alive and very much relevant to our daily lives."

The board originally scheduled the new bond vote for June 19 because the governor's proposed budget for 2002-03 contained proposals that would reduce the state building aid ration from 27.3 percent to 10 percent in Hicksville for capital projects approved after July 1. That provision, however, ended up not being included in the final state budget.

"As the legal deadline for public notification and scheduling a bond referendum by June 30 approached, the state budget had not yet been approved," said Finn. "The district took the prudent approach in scheduling the referendum in case this potential reduction in state aid passed as part of the governor's budget. When the state budget was finally approved in mid-May, the reduction in building aid measure was not included. Hence, projects approved after July 1, 2002 will be eligible for the state building aid ratio of 27.3 percent."

Of the revised bond, 83 percent of the monies under Proposition 1 have been allocated for facility improvements. In addition, 11 percent have been allocated for classroom technology upgrades, three percent for sidewalks and asphalt repairs and three percent for new elevators in order to bring the buildings up to Americans for Disabilities Act codes.

Those projects included in Proposition 1 are energy efficient windows, electrical upgrades, plumbing, ceiling tiles, fire alarm and public address upgrades, roof drains and columns, ventilation, temperature controls, fascia, a new telephone system and boiler, roof and toilet replacements totaling 70 percent of the $33.2 million cost. The additional funding, totaling 13 percent, has been allotted to offset fees and contingencies.

An expanded review of the bond issue finds that the proposal would replace boilers at each of the district's 11 buildings for a total cost of $4,767,000. The proposal also includes installing energy efficient windows in all buildings except the middle school at $6,012,400. Monies have also been allocated for roof replacement at six buildings ($2,165,394), ceiling tile replacement district-wide ($720,000), asphalt pavements ($419,704) and sidewalks curbs ($530,825) at all schools.

Toilet renovation, totaling $2,238,000, is in order district-wide to bring the student, staff and nurse office bathrooms up to Americans for Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. In addition, elevator upgrades at the middle and high school and administration building ($63,000) and the installation of elevators at the East Street, Lee Avenue and Woodland Schools ($897,750) have also been included.

Ventilation systems would be replaced or upgraded and there would be a district-wide upgrade of compressors and controls, restoring outside air ventilation capabilities ($1,844,550). Older electric distribution panels would be replaced with upgraded breaker-type panels ($1,107,750). Also included in Proposition 1 is extensive plumbing work at all 10 schools, including pipes and valve replacements and new water fountains, at an additional $988,661.

Technology would be upgraded in the district's middle and high school at $3,014,613 in order to implement Internet access into the classrooms. The upgrade would enable teachers to make use of a large screen and printer in each classroom and make Internet information part of the daily curriculum.

In addition, upgrades at the fire alarm system, telephone system and public address systems have been proposed for all 10 schools. The fire alarm and public address systems would be modernized while the telephone system would also be upgraded to permit the district to utilize caller ID. The cost would be $647,000, $208,244 and $412,850, respectively.

A little over 40 percent of the monies under Proposition 2 have been allocated for athletic improvements. The remainder of the proposition covers costs for fence work, auditorium renovations, security upgrades and air conditioning installation.

The proposal calls for the installation of air conditioning in the high school and middle school auditoriums, the high school's 'Little Theater' and the administration building at a projected cost of $898,550. Some $574,370 has been allocated for new sound systems, house and stage lighting and reconstructed seating in the middle and high school auditoriums as well as for a new stage in the high school auditorium.

Proposition 2 also includes district-wide reconstruction of the ballfields ($708,500) and improvement of drainage and maintenance with an irrigation system that preserves the field ($381,900). Backstops would also be replaced ($488,250) and, at the high school, the tennis courts would be reconstructed ($255,00), a new press box/concession stand ($215,000) would be erected and new football field lighting ($157,500) would be installed.

In addition, passage of Proposition 2 would allow for new fences around all buildings ($574,035) and an upgrade in the district's security system by re-keying all classroom doors ($581,820).

According to the Hicksville School District's newsletter, Bulletin Board, the Hicksville referendum bond rate figures are based on an estimated bond rate of 5.375 percent or some $17 million in interest over a 15-year span, the estimated term of the type of work in this bond under New York State's newly legislated "assumed amortization periods."

The total costs of both propositions include estimated fees - the cost charged by the architect overseeing the project - and contingencies.

Since the district is precluded from spending more than the amount approved by the voters in a referendum of these projects, various components have budgeted contingencies built into them to ensure that unexpected problems uncovered during modernization and reconstruction are anticipated.

Proposition 1, with state aid, would be $2.15 per $100 of assessed value or $10.75 a month for the first five years and $1.86 per $100 of assessed value or $9.31 a month for the remainder of the 15-year bond. The annual cost, with state aid, would be $129.01 per household for the first five years and $111.71 for the remainder of the bond.

With state aid, passage of Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 would bring the cost up to $2.49 per $100 of assessed value or $12.46 a month for the first five years and $2.20 per $100 of assessed value or $11.02 per month for the remainder of the bond. The annual cost would be an additional $149.58 for the first five years and $132.18 for the remainder of the bond.

Voting for the Hicksville School District's revised bond referendum will take place on Wednesday, June 19 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Burns Avenue, Dutch Lane, East Street, Fork Lane, Lee Avenue, Old Country Road and Woodland Schools.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained at the district clerk's office, 200 Division Avenue, any school day between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Completed applications must be received by the district clerk at least seven days before the vote if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter. All absentee ballots must be returned to the district office no later than 5 p.m. the day of the vote. Absentee ballots will be issued for those reasons stated in Education Law, Section 2019-A.

To vote, you must be a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older and a resident of the Hicksville School District for at least 30 days prior to the vote. Residents are registered if they have voted in the school or general elections during the past four years.

Results will be tabulated and announced following the close of the polls at the board of education's regular meeting scheduled for 8:15 p.m. that evening. The meeting will be held in the high school auditorium and is open to the public.