Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Long Beach School District’s $87.69 million bond was approved by a vote of 727 to 131 on Tuesday.
Districtwide capital projects — funded by serial bonds — are set to bring sweeping upgrades to every school building, without raising taxes for residents. Serial bonds have a series of dates and a staggered repayment schedule. A portion of the principal is to be repaid each year until full payment is completed.
Tuesday’s vote capped weeks of outreach by the school district to inform the public about the scope and impact of the bond proposal. The district emphasized that, because the new bond replaced existing debt from previous capital plans, taxpayers would not see a tax increase if the plan passed.
“This is an exciting moment for our district,” Superintendent Jennifer Gallagher said. “The community’s support allows us to move forward with important projects that will strengthen our school facilities for generations to come.”
The capital projects will be completed in three phases, starting next summer. “The district anticipates that the projects will be completed in approximately three years; however, the timeline is dependent upon the approval process from the State Education Department,” Gallagher said.
The district plans to renovate or modernize nearly every building, which will include new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, playground renovations or additions at all four elementary schools and field and locker room improvements at the middle and high schools.
There will be a new wrestling room at the high school, along with new classrooms dedicated to marine science, carpentry, technology and robotics. The school’s cafeteria and family and consumer science rooms will be renovated, and the main entrance and walkway will be renovated.
Auditorium and stage upgrades are planned at the middle school and Lindell Elementary School, as are bathroom renovations, ADA upgrades, and replacements of aging ceilings, walls, doors, floors, staircases and sidewalks throughout the district. There will also be a new roof for the Long Beach Public Library, a district-owned facility.
“This outcome is a reflection of what can be achieved when a community comes together around a shared vision for the future of our schools,” Board of Education President Alexis Pace said. “We sincerely thank everyone who took the time to learn about the district’s plan and cast their vote.”
Just over 42 percent of all eligible costs will be reimbursed by New York state in the form of building aid, significantly lowering the district’s local financial burden, district officials said.
This summer, the City of Long Beach expressed an interest in raising the West Elementary School playground to build a parking garage beneath it, which stirred public concern. That plan is not moving forward. After the city approached the school district with the idea, district officials said, the community feedback they received played a key role in their decision to decline the proposal. The playground at West will still be renovated, but it will not be elevated, and no garage or parking will be added.
The district held a series of public presentations outlining the capital plan and answering residents’ questions. The presentations and the district’s newsletter are available for viewing online at LongBeach.org and include:
Proposed Large-Scale Capital Plan — July 22, Aug. 19 and Sept. 9
Proposed Large-Scale Capital Plan Part Two — Aug. 19
Proposed Large-Scale Capital Plan — Sept. 9
Proposed Districtwide Capital Plan — Sept. 30
The district’s goal is not just modernization, but long-term sustainability and community benefit.
“This plan is a reflection of our shared vision for the future of our district,” Gallagher said. “We believe that these upgrades will bring our district into the future by creating more modern and updated facilities, which will greatly benefit our students, staff and school community.”
Have an opinion on the Long Beach school district’s project? Send a letter to jbessen@liherald.com.
