Explore Ardsley, from parks to trails as warm weather arrives
NEWS

East Ramapo officials pitch $33.6M plan to fix school buildings

Mareesa Nicosia
mnicosia@lohud.com

SPRING VALLEY East Ramapo school district residents could consider a $33.6 million capital improvements bond next year to give some long-needed attention to the district's aging infrastructure.

The exterior of Pomona Middle School is photographed July 23, 2014 in Suffern.

Officials proposed a three-phase plan at a Board of Education meeting Monday night for fixing roofs, boilers, windows, air-handling units, pavement, high school bleachers and more.

The proposal requires school board approval followed by a public vote on the total bond amount. The vote could be held in January or February and if approved, the work would begin in mid-2015 and be completed over three years, officials said.

Jack Eisenbach of Eisenbach & Ruhnke Engineering explained to board members how the firm worked with the district to assess and rank the repairs. Among the most urgent are the leaky, 15-year-old roofs on many buildings and original boiler systems in most schools, which are decades old.

"The idea is let's not wait for an emergency; let's take care of them now," Eisenbach said.

Costs for three phases of work are projected to be: $5.2 million in 2015, $12.5 million in 2016, and $15.9 million from 2016 to 2018.

State aid could fund about 54 percent of the project; another 10 percent in funding is possible for work that falls into the "safety and security" category, officials said.

Assistant Superintendent Valter Paci said the district's current debt payments are scheduled to decrease substantially in 2019 and be paid in full by 2025. This will help East Ramapo pursue the bond financing over 15 years or more with a "neutral" impact on property taxes, he said.

The bond proposal comes as the state Education Department continues to monitor the district's budget planning. Since June, a state-appointed fiscal monitor has been reviewing use of federal monies, among other areas, in response to critical audits and community outcry over diminishing services to public school students.

A 2011 Journal News analysis of data on school building conditions found that one in three buildings in Westchester, Rockland and Putnam's 54 school districts received unsatisfactory ratings. The surveys are done every five years by independent firms and are required by the state.

All 12 East Ramapo public schools were rated "unsatisfactory" at the time, meaning they required work to bring them into compliance with health and/or safety standards.

Twitter: @MareesaNicosia