Garden City community members are being asked to go to the polls on Tuesday, October 27th. On the ballot: a School Investment Bond to address substantial facilities and space needs throughout the district. Each of the district’s nine buildings will be impacted by the bond proposal. The cost of the proposed projects is $36.5 million, which includes renovation costs to meet health and safety code requirements, as well as to reclaim and add learning space for academic programs. The total amount of the projects will be partially offset by use of $1.3 million in capital funds and an anticipated $1.35 million in state EXCEL aid. If approved, construction is slated to begin in the summer of 2010 with Bond costs being phased in over a number of years. At its peak in 2014-2015, the bond will cost the average assessed homeowner 71 cents per day or $261 a year.

Voting will take place at the Garden City High School, 170 Rockaway Avenue, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. All qualified voters may take part. A qualified voter must be 18 years of age, a U.S. citizen, a resident of the Garden City School District for 30 days prior to the vote and a registered voter.

The comprehensive bond proposal, which addresses only the district’s most pressing needs, has been reviewed, revised and recommended by a Facilities Committee that included community members who have worked tirelessly during the past two years to put forth the most conservative and cost-effective plan. Historically, the district has asked the community for two previous building improvement bonds, one in the 1960s and one in the late 1990s, far less frequently than neighboring school districts, many of which float capital improvement bonds every 10-15 years.

Garden City has maintained its buildings using annual capital funds; however, the scope of the proposed projects far exceeds the district’s annual capital fund allocation. Replacing the high school roof alone, an item not included in the 1998 bond, is more than double the district’s annual capital fund allocation. Other health and safety issues include warped and buckled floors, windows and doors that no longer operate, open staircases that do not meet fire codes, cracks in foundations and masonry walls, as well as outdated, inefficient equipment, including boilers and heating and ventilation systems.

“We have significant facilities needs that affect the health and safety of our students,” commented Dr. Robert Feirsen, Superintendent of Schools. “We also need to address educational programming needs to ensure the community’s investment in our schools continues to pay off in outstanding pupil performance.

“We will realize the best return by doing the necessary repairs now while interest rates are low and construction firms are eager for work,” he continued. “Additionally, the proposed bond work will decrease the rate of deterioration of the district’s physical plant.”

During the two months since the Garden City Board of Education unanimously approved this resolution to hold a referendum, the district has carried out a comprehensive communication campaign to ensure that community members have the information they need to make an informed decision. “Newsletters were sent to every home, school tours were provided, several community meetings were held and a section of the district’s Web site was dedicated to the bond,” commented Dr. Feirsen.

In addition, school board members will be available at the Seventh Street Fair and at Garden City High School’s Homecoming celebration on Saturday, October 24th to answer residents’ questions.

“To uphold our tradition of excellence, we must provide our students with a 21st-century learning environment,” commented Board of Education President Colleen E. Foley. “We want to maintain small class sizes, grow our academic programs, provide our students with broader experiences and compete with other school districts on Long Island and throughout the country.”

For more information about the 2009 School Investment Bond Referendum, visit www.gardencity.k12.ny.us.