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Greenport looking to upgrade security, add classroom technology

The Greenport School District is looking to upgrade building security and add classroom technology with money provided from the 2014 Smart Schools Investment Act. 

The district will host a public hearing next week to finalize how to use the bond, which is from the plan designed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to improve educational technology.

The district’s preliminary plan seeks to spend $140,858 — given to the district from the New York State Education Department — on security features and classroom technology projects.

According to the preliminary investment plan nearly $100,000 of the money will fund replacing and upgrading about 10 of the exterior doors on buildings within the district. Greenport is also looking to install electronic door locks and an access control system on the exterior doors to “better protect our students and staff,” said Superintendent David Gamberg.

Should the bond get approved, the remaining $40,000 will be used to purchase graphing calculators and interactive televisions for classroom instruction.

Greenport formed a Smart Bond Committee of administration, staff, students, parents and community members to collectively decide how to best spend the bond money.

In total, $2 billion worth of funds were approved statewide as part of the Smart Schools Bond Act, to be distributed to all public schools in New York. To receive the money, districts were required to submit a Smart Schools Investment Plan to the Smart Schools Review Board for approval.

“Through the Smart Schools Bond Act, we are ensuring that all New York students have access to high-speed internet and new technology, regardless of their zip code,” Mr. Cuomo said in a release. “The tools and resources schools will be able to attain with this funding will help equip the next generation of New Yorkers to lead this state into the future.”

In 2014, Mr. Cuomo called for the state to invest in educational technology and infrastructure. New York residents voted and approved the bond in November of that year. Districts on the North Fork received over $600,000 total from the bond.

Community members are invited to attend Greenport’s public hearing at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium on Tuesday, Aug. 16. A copy of the preliminary plan can be found on the district’s website.

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