NEW ROCHELLE, NY — At last night’s Board of Education meeting, members of the City School District of New Rochelle Board of Education unanimously approved that a historic $106,479,575 capital bond project proposal will go to voters for consideration on May 17, 2016. The essential work included will protect and preserve buildings and grounds throughout the district and greatly influence the teaching and learning environment for every student, teacher, and staff member in New Rochelle’s school community.
Because the district is paying off significant debt over the next few years, financing needed for this bond would result in minimal impact on taxpayers. To further offset taxpayer burden on this extensive, multi-year project, the school district expects to receive approximately $50 million in building aid from New York State. For example, taxes from this bond, on a home with an assessed value of $16,000, would go down an average of $8.53/year compared with 2016.
The Board of Education’s decision to present this bond was informed by a thorough review process conducted by the Districtwide Health and Safety Committee, which in turn collaborated with 10 school-based health and safety committees charged with reviewing each school’s Building Condition Survey (BCS). Nine of 10 school buildings are currently rated Unsatisfactory. One is rated Poor. At the completion of the project, all buildings would be rated Satisfactory.
The Districtwide Health and Safety Committee is co-chaired by New Rochelle City Manager Chuck Strome and Daniel Webster Elementary School Principal Melissa Passarelli, and includes broad representation from parents, custodians, teachers, administrators, employee union representatives, and Board of Education Vice President Rachel Relkin. If the bond is approved by voters, this committee will continue to work
with the architect, construction manager, and school-based health and safety committees to provide comprehensive oversight of all work during the bond project.
Separately, the school district will complete a five-year facilities plan to execute building maintenance, repairs, and capital projects going forward. These projects will also be overseen by building-level and districtwide health and safety committees.
New Rochelle residents will be asked whether to approve this bond and the 2016-17 school district budget in a vote to be held on May 17, 2016, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.