In the wake of last week’s failed bond vote that would have financed additions to the Remsenburg/Speonk Elementary School, Board of Education members are now urging parents and taxpayers to tell them where they went wrong.
“Was our plan too ambitious? Was the timing bad? What happened?” asked School Board President Kevin Federico at Monday night’s meeting. “Tell us what you can support, because I think most of the community knows we need to update our school.”
The vote marks the second time in two years that taxpayers have rejected a bond to renovate the district’s only school. This time around, the $5.7 million bond would have paid for a new cafeteria, kitchen, library and one classroom. It was defeated by a 29 votes.
“I thought it would be close, but I didn’t think we’d lose, not at all,” said School Board member Tom Kerr. “I think the economy is still the big cloud over this whole thing.”
The economy may also take a toll on the district’s new teachers’ contract; the current one expires at the end of this school year. Mr. Federico said the board is still having informal conversations over the new contract’s terms with representatives of the teachers’ union.
“The board unanimously believes that the teachers should take a pay freeze for 2011-2012, and we’re hopeful that they will understand that this is the wish of the majority of the community,” he said.
Mr. Federico said he hopes to have the contract nailed down sometime in the early spring to avoid teachers working without contracts.
Michelle Trauring on Dec 15, 2010