Bond Referendum Addresses Facility Needs
The Valley Stream Central High School District has developed a bond
referendum that was presented to the community for vote and approved. The purpose of this multi-year initiative is to address facilities that are
beyond their life expectancies and in need of replacement. The
improvements at Central, North and South high schools, as well as
Memorial Junior High School, will positively affect all students in
component Districts 13, 24 and 30 when they are in grades 7-12.
The referendum includes projects identified as being of highest
priority. Science labs are among the major areas that would be addressed
in all four school buildings as all have significantly aged with
outdated equipment and furniture. Room layouts are no longer consistent
with the evolving curriculum requirements and advancements in science.
Roof repairs, bathroom replacements, electrical panel upgrades and
masonry repairs at all of the buildings are also part of the project.
Roofs, last replaced in the mid-1990s, have begun to pose problems such
as ceiling leaks. Most bathrooms were installed over 60 years ago and
have rust, peeling paint and aged equipment. Many existing electrical
panels and supporting cabling was initially installed more than 70 years
ago when less electricity was used. Building facades and curbs are
cracked and chipped, which can result in further damage.
Multi-sport turf fields have been installed at North, South and Memorial.
The Memorial field doubles as Central’s home field, meaning that
Central athletes would no longer need to use Fireman’s Field for
sporting events.
The total cost of the bond is $41 million, which is partially
funded through New York State Building Aid at a rate of 61 percent. The
proposal carries a minimal average tax increase of $50 per year for
the average homeowner.
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“Many of our facilities have not been updated in some time, if at all,”
said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bill Heidenreich. “Yet they are
heavily used throughout the year, and there comes a time when
improvements beyond basic maintenance are needed. We have reached that
point, as our last bond was 20 years ago.”
Bond Video