We are deeply grateful for the very strong support shown for the bond issue as well as the 2008-09 school budget. Both were approved by higher percentages than any first rate budget in a long time.

It is our intent to do as many of the capital projects included in the bond issue as quickly as possible. Five steps are required before a capital project can be undertaken: (1) approval by the voters (done) (2) preparation of detailed plans for submission to the New York State Education Department (SED) (3) review and approval of plans by SED (4) preparation of bids based upon plans approved by SED and (5) award of bids by the Board of Education. The biggest hurdle for districts over the past 10 - 15 years has been the third step - review and approval of plans by the State Education Department. Even relatively simple plans have taken months - our Energy Performance Contract was held up for almost a year.

In light of the problems with the State Education Department and since we know that the best contractors - particularly for summer work - are taken early, we have taken several steps to try to accelerate the process.

First, Herricks' facilities director, Jim Brown, and our architect, Peter Monterose, have been working on detailed plans for several months in anticipation of this date. Mr. Monterose has done this on his own knowing that he would not be compensated unless the community approved the projects. Second, since all projects were contained in the Building Condition Survey, which we were required to submit to the State Education Department, we have alerted SED to the impending projects. Third, many of the projects in the new bond issue overlap with projects included in the Energy Performance Program previously approved by SED. This has allowed us to explain what we are trying to do in the upcoming bond issue projects at the same time we explained the Energy Performance Program projects.

We expect to submit detailed plans to the State Education Department as early as possible this summer. With luck we will have them approved by SED by December which would then allow the projects to be bid and awarded in January - in time to get the best contractors at the best prices. Keep your fingers crossed.