Just because the bond referendum put out by the Mineola School District last month failed, it doesn't mean the need for the repairs is going to go away. That's the message the board of education and administration is sending and at the Thursday night board of education, capital projects and the way in which the district can fund them will be on the agenda.

At the last board of education meeting, the board and the public discussed reasons why the bond may have failed. Financial reasons and the tax burden placed on community residents were common thoughts. However, while the community voted not to spend an additional $23 million, the windows at Mineola High School, the replacement of which was included in the referendum, still need to be replaced.

The high school window and exterior door projects needs are at an emergency status, according to the district, so the board of education will need to decide how to fund the project. It could be a part of the 2005-2006 proposed budget or as some part of a future referendum.

However, there are other improvements and other decisions that have to be made. There are also window and door replacement projects at the middle school, Cross Street School and Jackson Avenue School as well as exterior masonry work at all of the schools with the exception of the fairly new Willis Avenue School. The high school auditorium seats need to be replaced as does the stage floor.

In addition, most of the schools require upgrades to the toilets and parking to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Then there is the security system the district intended to put in at each of the schools that included perimeter lighting and a single-point of entry. The board will also have to consider where to proceed with the system as it decides which projects are deemed necessities.

A major part of the referendum was the construction of a football field and track. Since Mineola High School has put together a successful track team in recent years, the district thought building a track at the high school, since the district is without a regulation track, would promote school pride. In order to maximize space the district also planned in its referendum to build a football field with a synthetic surface at the high school and convert the football field at the Hampton Street School into baseball fields. The board will now have to decide whether to revisit the track.

One proposal the board is expected to consider is putting out a referendum against in part having some projects as parts of different propositions. The board may ultimately determine that the most cost effective option to fund maintenance and improvement projects is to ask the board for them.

The Thursday, March 3 meeting will be held in the cafeteria of the Willis Avenue School at 8 p.m. Also during the meeting, there is expected to be an overview of the 2005-2006 educational plan and budget.