The question posed to the residents of the Mineola Union Free School District is "Will you pay $38.5 million to ensure a sound educational future for the students of the community?"

To pay for additions, alterations and renovations to the buildings as well as improvements to the technological resources of the district, the Mineola Board of Education introduced to the community at a meeting held on Monday, Nov. 30 a plan to float an approximately $38.5 million bond.

The proposed bond would result in taxpayers paying an average of $185 a month per year over 20 years. This bond amount was reached with the New York state aid ratio of 24.5 percent already factored into the numbers.

The biggest anticipated objection to the plan is expected to be because of the amount of money being requested, particularly in the light of the implementation of the STAR or School Tax Relief program, which was promoted as a much needed school tax cut.

Many within the district are quick to note that the plan is still a work in progress, and the numbers are not fixed. Input is still being accepted and in fact encouraged in meetings such as the one held on that Monday.

"Nothing is etched in stone," said Chief Financial Officer John Jackson, "If the input tells us that they (the taxpayers) cannot support a bond issue this high, we will listen to them. This is their bond issue."

He added, "It (the cost of the bond) can go as low as the public feels it should go."

The current numbers were reached after a curriculum and facilities audit of the all the district schools (Mineola High School; the Middle School; elementary schools Hampton Street, Cross Street, Meadow Drive and Jackson Avenue; and the unused Willis Avenue School) was conducted by district administrators and outside agencies such as CELT and Turner Construction Management.

These agencies involvement in the school district have been much publicized by the board of education over the past months and representatives from the agencies have gradually become more apparent in the community (such as CELT's involvement with the technology forum held at the Community Center).

The audit found that the major problems currently faced by the district are overcrowding, particularly within the Middle School, and inadequate technological resources, particularly in the High School.

To rectify these problems the current plans call for renovations and additions to the physical buildings which proponents of the plan believe will lead to a better implementation of the educational program.

The major change called for would free up all the existing classrooms currently used as half day kindergarten classrooms, by constructing an early childhood learning center for Pre-K and full day kindergarten at the Hampton Street School.

Besides dealing with the issue of space, the schools are taking such measures because of a New York state mandate that calls for full day kindergarten of all school districts, something Mineola currently does not have.

According to the plan presented at the open meeting, to establish this life center as well as additional alterations to Hampton Street School the cost would be $7,003,321.

Alterations to the Middle School, which in the words of Principal Dr. Fern Moskowitz suffers from "inadequate, illegal and substandard space" will include 18 additional instruction areas, the creation of a single large dining facility, the creation of a circular driveway for buses, the moving of the central office to the annex and the addition of an extension to the northeast portion of the building. The cost would be $6,665,043.

The changes to the High School, which according to Prinicpal Jay Lewis has remained virtually untouched by major renovations since its construction in 1961, would cost $3,884,016.

The planned alterations include an expansion to the library/media center; an addition of a music wing; a gymnasium addition; the construction of a technology wing which would host an art suite, driver education room, graphics computer lab and electronics lab; and the renovations of the classrooms, the replacement of lost storage space and the relocation of the offices.

The changes to Cross Street, Jackson Avenue and Meadow Drive would be made to enhance the resources and provide more space for the students. The cost for the changes was estimated to be $292,500 each.

The total amount of money for alterations to the different school buildings equals $18,429,880.

Renovations to the schools would cost $4,912,650 for the High School; $1,838,700 for Meadow Drive; $1,800,900 for the Middle School; $869,400 for Jackson Avenue; $610,200 for Cross Street; and $490,050 for Hampton Street. The total estimated cost for renovations is $10,521,900.

The next major thrust is the development of the technological resources of the school district. If there is a point on which the district can be less than flexible, it is here, according to the district's chief financial officer.

Jackson said, if the money to improve the technology of the schools does not come from the bond then the district will be forced to build the monies needed out of future capital projects and budgets.

The cost for changes at the High School is the greatest at $3,012,800. The Middle School needs improvements costing $2,791,400. Hampton Street would cost $2,184,570; Jackson Avenue would cost $1,320,000; Meadow Drive would cost $1,101,600 and Cross Street would cost $985,500. The total cost for technology improvements to the school district was estimated to be $11,396,170.

As for the seventh building in the district, the decision was made by the Mineola Board of Education to sell the currently unused Willis Avenue School for a price tag in the ballpark of $2,000,000.

Minus the money made off the sale of the Willis Avenue School, it is anticipated that the bond would equal $38,500,000 with an assumed interest rate of 5.20 percent for a total cost to the taxpayers of $15 per month or an average of $185 per year ($215 for years one through three decreasing to $155 for years 15 through 20) for a total of $38,347,950.

These numbers that were presented at the Monday night meeting have all financial aid available from the state already factored into them, though Jackson has not ruled out approaching local government officials for additional financial assistance.

The money from this bond will pay for the initial project, however it does not cover the increase in monies that will be needed to handle the additional staff that will be required to run, for instance, the learning center.

As far as the technological changes, the wiring to be put in at this time should be good for the next 20 to 30 years, said Jackson, and therefore be in no need of immediate additional monies.

Further increases in the budget may continue in years to come to maintain the services that this project entails, however Jackson sees no reason for changes that would drastically increase the tax rate by more than the 3 percent increase seen on average in the introduction of a new Mineola School District budget.

"We have an obligation to the taxpayers," said Jackson.

The tentative date for the referendum which will allow the taxpayers to vote has been scheduled as March 15, coincidentally right around several village elections including the one for the Village of Mineola where voters will also be called upon to choose the course of their future.