With the clock ticking toward a December 8 bond vote on a proposed $9.8 million capital project for Southold schools, tours of the campus kick off today.
Southold Union Free School District Superintendent David Gamberg has organized the tours of the district’s campus, to get a “close-up” look at the proposed work included in the bond vote.
“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,” Gamberg said.
Four dates/times for the tours are available:
Today at 3 p.m.
Tuesday, November 17 at 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 3 at 10 a.m.
Thursday, December 3 at 1 p.m.
All tours will begin at the entrance to the secondary building by the tennis courts; Gamberg will be waiting at that entrance and will escort visitors for the 45-minute tour.
Those who wish to attend are asked to RSVP by contacting Jennifer Bruer, secretary to the superintendent, at 631-765-5400, ext. 304, or by emailing jbruer@southoldufsd.com.
A special work session was held recently with the Board of Education to discuss the proposed bond referendum and capital reserve project.
The district’s architectural firm, BBS Architects & Engineers, gave a power point presentation, followed by a discussion by the board.
In September, the board first discussed the new capital improvements project. But at the October meeting, they delved into specifics and costs.
The bond would help to finance improvements in four categories: health and safety, educational space upgrades, community and athletics, and infrastructure and building preservation, in both the high school and elementary schools.
Those improvements include replacing the P/A intercom system, replacing fire alarm systems, a new voiceover IP phone system that will allows classrooms to communicate, security upgrades — including new card-access doors, cameras and enhanced technology — new lighting in the parking lots, parking lot bus and drop off circulation and replacement of deteriorated walks.
Educational space upgrades in the high school include renovation of the existing technology shop and computer lab, converting the existing technology shop to a new library/media center, converting the current library and computer lab to three new classrooms, conversion of the existing weight room to a TV production studio, interior renovations in the art room, photo lab, and ROTC room, and transforming the athletic storage area to the weight room.
In the elementary school, interior renovations and reconfiguration of the existing computer lab and library will take place.
Outdoors, a new, six-lane polyurethane track will be constructed, a new, synthetic turf, multi-sport athletic field will be created, and both the girls JV softball and boys JV baseball field will be relocated.
A reconstruction of a natural grass soccer field will ensue, as will construction of new, 150 seat bleachers.
In addition, some infrastructure and building preservation measures will be taken to replace deteriorated steel lintels and damaged brick masonry, as well as other improvements.
Conversion of the technology shop to the library will include moving the library to a central location in the building, creating a multi-use space where meetings might even be held.
The work will include modernization, electrical system, lighting, mechanical and ventilation system upgrades, as well as new interior finishes, new bookcases and library furnishings, and a new research and media center.
Roger Smith of BBS outlined preliminary floor plans of how the new configurations might look.
He emphasized that the plans were by no means final.
If the bond is approved by voters, the firm will be back to finalize specifics and designs.
The total project cost is $9,765, 750, according to BBS.
Two sources of funding were outlined, including $2 million to be appropriated from the district’s capital reserve fund, and $7,765,750 from the issuance of bonds.
Also discussed was the tax impact of the proposal.
Currently, the district has a $14 million bond indebtedness that’s due to retire in June, 2018.
The tax impact to the average household in Southold for that present $14 million is approximately $204 annually. There have been two refinancings of the bonds over the past several years, to decrease costs as interest rates have gone down.
Should the new bond proposition pass, the tax impact on the average household assessed at $6,480 would be $130 annually for bond totaling $7,765,750.
