By Carol Bartold, Senior Reporter

Oct. 23, 2019: A resolution approved by the Bronxville School Board of Education at their October 17 meeting will send voters to the polls in December for a $3 million bond referendum. The referendum will include projects taken out of the original $21.8 million capital improvement plan approved in March 2018 due to higher than expected bids.

Dan Carlin, Assistant Superintendent for Business, advised that the district is in a favorable position to hold the December referendum to restore those projects. The district expected to sell the bonds to finance the $21.8 million improvement plan at a 3.5 percent interest rate but was able to sell at an interest rate of less than 2 percent. That lower than expected rate results in the ability to issue $3 million in additional bonds, due in 15 years, while preserving tax neutrality.

“The interest rates are in our favor,” Carlin stated. “The ability to borrow and issue these bonds within the next six months takes away a lot of the interest rate risk and allows us to complete our original vision for this plan.”

Projects dropped from the original bond issue include the curtain wall that faces the elementary school playground, the innovation center planned for the former boiler room, a chiller that would provide air conditioning for the first floor A and B Wings, along with work on the gymnasium bulkhead and restoration the school building’s front steps on Pondfield Road.

Superintendent Dr. Roy Montesano noted that the existing elementary school curtain wall is rusting significantly. While the new design would match the overall architecture of the school building, it is also anticipated to improve energy efficiency. That improvement is expected to cost approximately $1.25 million.

Bids for the innovation center have come in at approximately $300,000, lower than the original bid. Montesano pointed out that the new bid includes only general contracting work as the HVAC work needed is already included in the original bond issue approved in 2018. Plumbing and electrical work for the chiller is likewise included in the original bond issue, and installation is estimated at $40,000 to $50,000.

Gymnasium bulkhead renovation, front step restoration, and other minor projects would make up the remainder of the proposed $3 million bond.

“I think it’s important to note that we are not raising this for the first time,” board member Thomas Curran stated. “These are concepts and ideas we had to make some very difficult choices about in light of the pricing we received when we had the bids out.”

The bid process for these projects could begin in mid-January, assuming a positive vote, Montesano said. He added that the district secured New York State Education Department as well as New York State Environmental Quality Act approval for the work."

“This referendum is really to provide a funding source we can go out and bid these projects,” Montesano explained. He emphasized that the proposal still keeps the tax levy neutral on debt service. He expects to send an explanatory letter to the community.

Pictured:  Bronxville Elementary School curtain wall

Photo by A. Wrner