East Ramapo $58M bond vote Tuesday: 6 takeaways

As residents in the East Ramapo school district prepare to vote on a $58 million referendum to fix its aging buildings, district officials said the time for the project was right from both an academic and financial perspective.

The referendum, which goes before voters Dec. 6, would provide money for replacing roofs, boilers, windows and HVAC units, as well as repairing sidewalks, floors and bleachers.

The bond proposal also includes an upgraded security system and athletic fields; renovations in K-8 classrooms to add science labs and special education classrooms; and installing a Wi-Fi network covering every classroom and office.

Also on the ballot is a second proposition seeking approval to borrow $1,127,920 through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York program to replace windows and doors at Kakiat and Fleetwood elementary schools.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: $58M bond would fix classrooms, more

E. RAMAPO: District details how it will spend $3M state aid

E. RAMAPO: Project underway to fix leaky roofs at Ramapo H.S.

EDITORIAL: Support East Ramapo's bond to fix schools​

On Tuesday, Charles Szuberla, the state monitor for the East Ramapo schools, Superintendent Deborah Wortham, and Assistant Superintendent for Finance Valter Paci met with The Journal News' Editorial Board to discuss why the public should support borrowing the money.

Here are some takeaways from the meeting:

1. Trending upward

Wortham pointed to what she said were clear signs of academic progress in the struggling district: Graduation rates at Spring Valley High School have risen from 63 percent to 69 percent over the past year; rates at Ramapo High School have gone up from 66 percent to 70 percent. Wortham said grade 3-8 state English Language Arts scores increased and math scores held steady.

Wortham also said the district has seen enrollment jump by 200 students, concentrated mostly in grades 4, 5 ,6, 10 and 11. Attendance is improving and discipline is declining, she said. "The work needs to be done now because our students, in order to continue the forward movement of our academic improvement, we need the physical plant to improve as well," Wortham said.

2. What it would cost taxpayers

There would be no tax impact for property owners for the first three years of the 20-year bond, officials said. Taxes would rise by 0.28 cents per $1,000 of full market value in year four, increasing to 8.83 cents per $1,000 of market value by the final year, according to Paci.

Szuberla called the tax impact "relatively modest" and said the state will pay 56.2 percent of the $58 million, including interest on the bonds.

3. Rebounding from last year's $42 million bond defeat:

Wortham has made 24 presentations in support of this year's referendum, and there have been at least a half-dozen evening "tour dates" scheduled at district schools. These have included some of her "circle of students" — leaders from each high school to help advocate for what the repairs mean to them.

"I believe the community can articulate the success of where the district is going ... the message to the community is, 'you can trust us with your child,'" Wortham said. "We've changed that downward trend and we're happy to be moving forward."

4. Overcoming skepticism

Officials on Tuesday addressed opposition the district has faced over years of failed budgets, fiscal mismanagement and the controversial sale of school buildings

They said the buildings being fixed under the bond are not going to be sold given the enrollment increase and other disincentives that accompany the funding.

Szuberla, an architect by training, said the state has reviewed specifications and plans for the repairs, and will be looking at payment requisitions to make sure the district is only paying for work that has been completed correctly.

The district's budget is balanced and sustainable, and includes a $4.1 million fund balance that has risen by $2.7 million in the past year, officials said.

5. Building support in the Orthodox Jewish community

One of the "tour dates" promoting the referendums is Nov. 30 at Yeshiva of Spring Valley. Also, Wortham and Szuberla have held meetings with private school administrators.

6. What happens if the referendums fail

Money the district would spend on emergency repairs would not be funded by the state, Paci said. "Obviously the taxpayer will have to pay more," he said.

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