Southold school supe offering public tours before bond vote
Want to check out Southold School District’s facilities before casting your vote on the proposed capital improvement bond?
Superintendent David Gamberg has set the following dates and times for the public to tour the schools: Sunday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m.; and Thursday, Dec. 3, at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“I am pleased to announce an opportunity for any district resident to join me in touring the campus to get a close-up look at the proposed work that is included in the bond vote scheduled for Dec. 8,” Mr. Gamberg said in a statement. “I am providing these tours as a service to residents who may not have had an opportunity to attend board meetings when this information was presented by our architects.”
[Related story: Southold School District residents to vote on $9.8M construction plan]
The tour lasts 45 minutes and will begin at the high school entrance located near the tennis courts.
Visitors must RSVP to the superintendent’s secretary, Jennifer Bruer, at 765-5400, ext. 304, or [email protected].
The bond proposal asks residents to approve nearly $9.8 million for a capital improvement project that includes a new turf athletic field, new security features and a reconfiguration of classroom space.
Specifically, residents will vote on the district’s plan to pay for the project by using $2 million in reserves and issuing a $7.76 million bond to fund the rest.
The tax impact of the amount to be bonded would be an estimated additional $130 annually for the average homeowner, according to a presentation given at last month’s school board meeting.
Some of the proposed projects include a new track and synthetic turf multi-sport athletic field with organic fill, added security features, reconstructed parking areas with bus loops and student drop-off zones, conversion of the existing weight room into a TV production studio and relocating the weight room to the athletic storage area.
Also included for the high school are a refurbished ROTC classroom, upgraded art room and photo studio and renovated cafeteria dining area.
At the elementary school, the plan includes an upgrade of the library media center and creation of flexible learning spaces, among other projects.
For more information, visit the district’s website southoldufsd.com.
