SSHS rehab plan draws mixed reviews

At their first opportunity to comment on the proposed multi-million-dollar renovation of South Side High School, Rockville Centre residents voiced mixed reactions — ranging from characterizing the debt service to pay for it as “a runaway train” to a thank-you for putting the “very important” issue of the community's responsibility for the safety and health of its students before district residents.

The 30 or so people who attended the Board of Education meeting on Oct. 13 in the high school auditorium learned that the school district is now hoping to float a mid-December referendum on bond issues of just under $32 million -- down from the $40 million initially considered -- to finance the project, which administrators hope will start as soon as school ends in June.

According to Robert Bartels, the district's assistant superintendent for business, if authorized by district voters, the $31.9 million in new debt would come from a 30-year, $20 million bond and a 20-year, $11.9 million bond. Bartels said the bonds would result in a total increase in taxes of $96 for the average homeowner (with a home valued at $707,000) due to retiring debt service in 2011-12.

Bartels said the current debt service for the average homeowner in the 2009-10 school year is $269. In 2010-11, homeowners would see no increase, but in 2011-12, the average homeowner would see a $14 increase, for a total of $283. In 2012-13, a $12 increase would bring the total to $295; in 2013-14, another $12 increase would raise the total $307; and in 2014-15, with a $58 increase, the total would be $365 -- where it would stay until 2019-20, when the next debt service would be retired.

Residents wasted no time in stepping up to the microphone to question, offer advice, criticize and praise the plan during the public comment portion of the meeting.

"It seems odd," said Karen Burgee, that six months after proposing a redistricting plan that would close Watson School to save money (since withdrawn), the board is now proposing this "huge idea. It all comes out of our pockets either way," Burgee said. "Our house needs to be fixed."