Voters in Nyack will make a major decision regarding the future of the district Tuesday.
Polls open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for the Nyack Public Schools' $26.4 million bond referendum. If approved, the district would use the money for a series of capital improvement projects including the replacement of outdated boilers, roofs, windows and doors on all of the disrict's buildings, the installation of artificial surfaces, bleachers and lighting at the Nyack High School athletic fields, and retrofitting classrooms for students with learning disabilities.
The district would use $5 million in capital reserves and take out bonds to pay for the rest. According to the district this would lead to no tax increases because the new loans would be replacing bonds that are being retired over the next few years. This point and the athletic fields have been the most controversial aspects of the referendum.
In addition to discussing the matter at regular board of education meetings, the district held three public information sessions to hear comments and answer questions. During the final session Oct. 16, representatives of many of the district's sports teams stepped up to support the renovation of the athletic fields, which has also drawn some opposition in the community. The district presentation from the open forums can be found here.
District Clerk Gail Fleur said there has been some confusion regarding voting locations. She said those have not changed since last year's district budget vote. The sites are Depew Manor, Hilltop, Upper Nyack Elementary School and Valley Cottage Elementary School. For those who are not sure which location to go to, there is a list of locations by street address on the district website here.
The district website home page at www.nyackschools.org also has links to voting information, a bond information newsletter, a Q&A regarding the referendum, a list of proposed projects and related photo gallery and 3D rendering of the propose athletic fields at Nyack High School.
For more on the referendum, read these reports on Patch.
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