The Plainedge School District will submit the bond proposal defeated by local voters in the spring for a re-vote, Dr. John Richman, superintendent of schools announced this week.

During a regular school board meeting held last Thursday, Sept. 14, Dr. Richman said the district will hold a referendum on a $53 million proposal, which would fund an overhaul of facilities, on Dec. 5. He noted that the proposal includes the same projects included in last year's $50 million bond, but that costs have escalated. The major components are construction of a new middle school to replace Packard, and renovation of each of the other school buildings in the district.

District administrators and school board members have cited growing enrollment and a subsequent lack of classroom space as a major reason for the construction project. They have also noted that Packard needs to be rebuilt because although structurally sound, it is structurally inadequate as a learning environment, and necessary renovations would cost nearly as much as a new building.

In addition to putting forth the bond proposal, Dr. Richman said that due to pressing space concerns, in October, he will ask the board of education to purchase two portable classroom units for Packard Middle School. "We have no more space. We have no more places to put kids," he said.

The district will present the bond proposal in detail at a series of public meetings to be held at each of the elementary schools. The meetings are being dubbed "Neighborhood Conversations," and residents are being encouraged to attend the meeting at the school nearest to their home. All the meetings will contain general information on the entire bond, in addition to a focus on the renovations proposed for the individual buildings hosting each meeting. The dates and locations of the meetings are as follows: Oct. 5 - Schwarting School, Oct. 16 - Eastplain School, Oct. 23 - West. Residents who live nearest to Northedge are asked to attend the meeting at West. All of the Neighborhood Conversation meetings will begin at 7:30 p.m. The district will also set aside a portion of the Nov. 16 regular board of education meeting for discussion of the bond.

Also during last Thursday's board meeting, the district announced that the board of education and the Plainedge Federation of Teachers have reached an agreement on the extension of the teachers' contract through 2005. The agreement marks an apparent end to the tough contract disputes that the district has seen in recent years. "You're going to see a much more relaxed and upbeat atmosphere than you've been used to historically," Dr. Richman told district residents in making the announcement.

Later, in a press release from the district, he stated, "We are very excited. With this extension in place, we can now focus on our instructional processes and our goal of placing 'kids first.'" Plainedge Federation of Teachers President (PFT) Pauline Weissman added, "With the ratification of the contract extension, I am very optimistic that the future of the Plainedge District is going to be much brighter."

The agreement with the PFT, which was due to expire in 2002, provides a 3 percent annual increase plus increment for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005. It withdraws all outstanding grievances. In addition, it adds one instructional day to the calendar beginning in September, 2002. It includes provisions for staff development for first-year teachers and ongoing professional development for all teachers. The PFT has agreed to support district efforts to enlist faculty participation in committee work, and teachers will be compensated for work in curriculum areas. Improved dental benefits were also a part of the deal.

The board reached a similar agreement with the teacher assistants. That deal extends their contract through 2005, providing a 3 percent salary increase for the years 2003 to 2005, one additional instructional day beginning in September 2002, and better dental benefits. In addition, the district reached a consensus with the Directors Association and the bus drivers. Both of those contracts are from July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2004 and include a 3 percent salary increase.