Residents will be voting on a bond proposal on March 6. In light of the recent budget defeat and being on a contingency budget, the school board is presenting the district with a bond issue to improve the district facilities. The bond will consist of the construction of additions and/or alterations and improvements including new classrooms, science labs, roof replacement, driveway and pavement improvements, and improvement to facilities accessed by the physically challenged.

It was daunting to hear that a bond issue of about $14.5 million was needed - but it was no surprise. The board has been looking at the problems for some time, in fact almost as soon as the recent renovations were complete, they were talking about what was still needed.

We remember when John Specce presented his report on school facilities about 20 years ago and suggested that we spend $9 million to fix everything in the district. The community voted it down and the board then began to present the work piece meal, item by item. The result was we spent much more than we would have if we did the work Mr. Specce's committee suggested. Now the problems have surfaced again. We are again beginning the process of convincing the community that what the board says they need, they need.

Grace Searby in her letter to the editor questioned the amount of time residents have to find out about the bond proposal. She said residents must wait until Feb. 20 to read it on the school's website. To facilitate residents, we are reprinting the school board report on the bond issue that appeared in the Jan. 5 issue of the Oyster Bay Enterprise Pilot. It follows:

"The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Board of Education heard a report from the Facilities Committee that has been meeting since last August to evaluate district buildings. Speaking for the committee, resident Donald Zoeller reviewed the members' in-depth evaluation of suggestions made by the architectural firm Burton, Behrendt, & Smith. "In examining the buildings, we focused on health and safety issues, deterioration, risks of future deterioration, compliance to building codes, especially the Americans with Disabilities Act, new systems, and ways to save money," stated Mr. Zoeller. Working with the architects, the committee asked hard questions, including why, why now and why so much. "The committee felt that costs had to be reduced but we still had to accomplish what had to be done," stressed Mr. Zoeller. As a result, the plans were revised to reflect the most responsible and economic renovations and upgrades.

In conclusion, the Facilities Committee recommended a bond issue of approximately $14.5 million. "It is extremely important to have this message carried to the larger community and I urge you to talk to your friends to support this issue," stressed Mr. Zoeller. "Schools have to have roofs, parking lots need to be safe and the children need adequate facilities," he said.

"This is the right thing to do," stated Superintendent of Schools Phyllis Harrington. "Take into consideration that Vernon is 50 years old and the original high school was built in 1928, with an addition constructed in 1958. It also is important to remember that, over the past five years, capital projects were removed from the annual budgets to reduce the budget-to-budget increase," Dr. Harrington added.

The main areas needing attention include the 20-year-old roof, unsafe drop-off area, and new classrooms at the James H. Vernon School, and science labs and classrooms at Oyster Bay High School. Gary Robertson, Kirk Hatzmann and Fred Seeba, representatives of Burton, Behrendt & Smith, described a new parking lot and drop-off area at Vernon that will augment traffic flow by separating buses and cars, add 40 parking stalls and, most importantly, improve safety. Six new classrooms, storage and maintenance areas, and a fire access road will be added, along with renovations to bathrooms, offices, the library and corridors.

"At Oyster Bay High School, a new area will house science labs and classrooms. The original science rooms will be renovated, along with some classrooms, offices and bathrooms. The Administration Building will be upgraded to meet ADA requirements, including a new entrance ramp with automatic doors and renovated bathrooms. At the Theodore Roosevelt School, needed upgrades will be covered by an energy performance contract," Dr. Harrington said. (The story concluded here.)

Mr. Zoeller was a good choice of a person to quote since he was against the budget that was defeated. Unlike local private schools, where there are wealthy residents who are willing to give millions to put up an auditorium or science laboratory that will be named after them, the local public schools need funding from the taxes of all local residents.

It is going to be a hard choice, to say - add to my tax burden - but sometimes you have to do what you have to do. The state has a formula for helping districts with capital projects but because of the wealth of this district, we receive very little help from them.

There is no "White Knight on a Steed with Checkbook" that is going to help the children of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District. There are only voters who realize they have a responsibility to support the children.

Look around Oyster Bay-East Norwich and take a look at the lovely children who live here. Take joy in seeing them as they grow into productive citizens. They need us to support their school. Let's just do it.

Vote yes on the bond issue.

They need it. We have to do it.

- DFK