Editor's note:  The letter below from Dr. Roy R. Montesano, superintendent of the Bronxville schools, to the Bronxville community appears on the website of The Bronxville School and is dated January 12, 2018. The Bronxville School has authorized MyhometownBronxville.com to publish the letter.

Dear Bronxville Community:

Feb. 14, 2018:  The purpose of this letter is to provide an update on the need for certain maintenance and improvement projects and the related financing through the issuance of school district bonds.

The Bronxville School is approaching its 100th anniversary and we are proud of that history and the vital role the school plays in our Bronxville community.

The projects described herein will help the school continue to meet the developing educational challenges and best prepare our students for the demands of a changing world.

Over the past several years, we have deferred construction on significant maintenance and improvement projects to coincide with the 2020 maturity of bonds issued to finance the last major building construction project (the "C wing" project in 1999). In this plan, the cost of issuance and repayment of new bonds would be tax-neutral to the village taxpayers. Our beautiful 100-year-old building is in need of updating, and it is impossible to make the necessary improvements and repairs from operating funds. Before we can move forward, we need approval for the projects and related financing.

We have discussed the needs of the school in meetings with parents, staff, students, The Bronxville School Foundation, the PTA, and a community advisory committee, representing the various constituencies in the Bronxville Village. Based upon the input received, the scope of the work is centered around three principal areas:

• Site improvements and repairs,

• Infrastructure improvements and repairs, and

• Program (student) related improvements

The site improvements and repairs include the replacement of the Chambers Field and track (which was installed in 2006 with an estimated useful life of 10 years), the replacement of the elementary school playground (which was installed in 2002 and has reached the end of its useful life), and the installation of three additional pumps to complete the flood mitigation project.

The infrastructure improvements and repairs include the restoration of the school front façade to comply with regulations of the American Disabilities Act, major roofing replacements and repairs, masonry work, brick pointing, electrical panel upgrades, plumbing, air conditioning in parts of the building, ventilation, and the replacement of certain flooring and ceiling tile sections.

Lastly, as we continue to build and expand upon the Bronxville Promise and prepare our students for their future, we believe the following improvements will enhance the teaching and learning environment:

• Renovated/Expanded Health Office:  The current health office is a converted classroom (relocated due to the 2007 flood) that is significantly undersized given the importance of health safety and the daily demands placed on the office. Last year, the health office received more than 9,000 visits from students in need of care (an average of 50 students per day). The new health office will provide appropriate space to meet these demands while maintaining a healthy space for our students.

• New Guidance Center:  We are undertaking a comprehensive study to identify ways to improve our high school guidance program, with a goal of having one of the best guidance programs in the nation. In connection with this effort, we believe that the current guidance office, which is located in a converted classroom as a result of being displaced from the 2007 flood, does not support our needs. The center will be relocated and gain direct access and visibility to the high school entrance.  It will provide space for students to meet with college advisors, access current information related to college and careers, and allow us to expand our current services, including our plans to offer help with internships and virtual college tours. We believe the new space will be comparable with guidance centers of competitor schools.

• Expansion of our Cafeteria:  Our cafeteria, which was designed for a student population of less than 1,000, is undersized given our K-12 student population of approximately 1,700. It currently has a maximum capacity of 227 students. The expansion will increase the capacity to 407 students, providing greater flexibility in scheduling and eliminating the reliance upon the multipurpose room for elementary school lunches, which will provide additional space to host class meetings and collaborative work.

• Renovation/Expansion of 3rd-Floor Learning Space:  As we continue to expand upon the Bronxville Promise, new directions in teaching and learning require that we design alternative learning spaces. The numbers of students involved in research, independent study, online courses, and collaborative design work has increased dramatically and reflects the changing concept of the "classroom" in education. The renovated third-floor learning space will enable students to work collaboratively and develop skills to be able to compete in their future endeavors beyond Bronxville.

• Renovation of Old Boiler Room to an Engineering/Innovative Design Space:  We currently have a large space that was used as a boiler room prior to the flood. Repurposing the underutilized boiler room space provides another area to promote expanded innovative, collaborative learning for our students to compete in an ever-changing job market.

• Renovation of the High School Entry:  Most importantly, this renovation will provide additional security to our building through a security vestibule. In addition, it will provide direct access to our new guidance center and provide an area for students to work and collaborate on school projects.

Summary

The Bronxville School District is recognized as one of the very best school districts in the United States. It is the centerpiece of the Bronxville Village and continues to attract families and some of the best and brightest students to our community. The improvements and repairs described are needed to maintain our infrastructure and provide an enhanced learning environment for our students and teachers.

Our plan is to issue the bonds sometime in fiscal 2020, as early as the summer of 2019. Repayment of the bonds will commence in fiscal 2021. However, certain projects (for example, Chambers Field, the elementary school playground, and the flood mitigation) need to be started as soon as possible. Other projects will require a longer bidding and state approval process. 

Before we can proceed any further, we need to secure voter approval for the new bonds through a referendum, which we expect to hold sometime in March.* The total cost of the projects will approximate $25 million, the vast majority of which will be funded through the bond issuance. The principal amount of the bonds to be issued will be communicated when the amount of state aid is known.

We thank everyone who participated in our group meetings and provided input, and we look forward to sharing more detailed information with you in the coming weeks. We encourage you to visit the school website as we continue to update information and develop our list of frequently asked questions. Also, we invite you to participate in one of our in-person tours of the facilities which will be scheduled in the near future.**

We appreciate your attention to this important matter and invite you to email me with any questions. As The Bronxville School gets ready to celebrate its 100-year anniversary in 2022, we look forward to your involvement in "Building for the Next 100 Years."

Thank you,

Roy R. Montesano Ed.D.
Superintendent
January 12, 2018

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*Editor's note: The date of the referendum has been set for March 13, 2018.

** Editor's note:  The first community forum and building tour occurred on February 6, and the next forum and tour will be on March 1 at 7:00 pm at the school.

Editor's note:  As a public service, MyhometownBronxville publishes press releases, statements, and articles from local institutions, legislators, and candidates. MyhometownBronxville does not fact-check statements therein, and any opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the thinking of its staff.