During the March 5, 2018 meeting of the Comsewogue School District Board of Education, the board voted unanimously to move forward with a bond proposal to improve district facilities based on recommendations from the community-led Facilities Committee. The Facilities Committee was established to review the state-mandated five-year building conditions survey, tour district buildings, review financial and enrollment data, and, ultimately, present its recommendations and findings to the board. The committee presented its recommendations in a special public meeting on February 12, 2018. The proposal, as recommended by the committee, and now approved by the Board of Education, passed in a community vote on May 15, 2018. Residents within the Comsewogue School District approved both the district’s bond and 2018-2019 budget. Voters approved the bond: 768 YES to 315 NO votes and the budget 829 YES to 263 NO.
The proposed bond, totaling $32 million, focuses on improving three main areas throughout the district's six school buildings: health and safety, infrastructure and the three A's - academics, arts and athletics. The proposed facility improvements preserve the integrity of the school buildings, address repairs, improve instructional resources for all and upgrade athletic facilities. The bond proposal includes several projects, including: creating security vestibules at the main entrances of all buildings, updating casework in all buildings, renovating auditorium seating and carpeting and updating the sound system and rigging at John F. Kennedy Middle School, and replacing the press box and bathroom/concession stand at the high school's main athletic field.
Projects have been categorized by importance and urgency, and broken into two groups: A-list items and B-list items. If approved by residents on May 15, items on the A-list, which have been categorized as high priority, will receive priority. Following the completion of the A-list items, B-list items will be re-prioritized based on available funds and need. A full list of the proposed projects is available below.
"We are grateful to our community for their continued support of our schools and our students,” said former Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Rella. “Their approval of the bond and 2018-2019 budget will enable us to enhance and enrich health and safety, infrastructure and the three A’s – academics, arts and athletics."