Huntington Residents to Vote on Latest BOCES Capital Project Plan
Huntington School District residents are eligible to vote on the latest capital project plan approved by the Western Suffolk BOCES Board of Education. Voters rejected a $5.475 million bond last year that would have funded a permanent addition to the complex the group calls The White House, which houses BOCES administrative offices. It is located at 507 Deer Park Road in Dix Hills.
Western Suffolk BOCES is holding a Jan. 29 referendum on a scaled-down version of its earlier proposal. The latest plan does not involve long-term bonding. Last December’s proposal would have cost the Huntington School District $147,096 over a three year period.
The White House is 51 years old and the portable structures have been in use for more than 3 ½ decades. The complex is used strictly for administrative purposes and does not house any students or instructional programs.
Instead of borrowing and assessing districts a proportional amount, Western Suffolk BOCES will pay for the smaller addition out of its own capital fund with no additional cost to local school districts. Two public information meetings on the project will be held at 7 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Manor Plains High School and Dec. 5 at Brennan Middle/High School.
After the larger proposal was defeated by voters a year ago, the BOCES Board re-evaluated space needs with architects and engineers. By relocating its information technology department to a BOCES school after rain damaged a server, eliminating a basement and various storage areas and re-designing interior space, the Board concluded a 10,500 square foot, single-story addition would be a permanent solution to the structures now in use. The original proposal called for construction of 22,178 square feet of new space.
Voting on the $3.35 million capital project will take place on Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. at three sites. Voters from the 18 school districts in Babylon, Smithtown and Huntington townships can cast ballots at Brennan Middle/High School in North Babylon, Wilson Tech’s central campus in Dix Hills, or Manor Plains High School on Little Plains Road in Huntington.
“Having been in use for more than 36 years, our modular structures have reached a point where repairs will not solve the serious structural and mechanical problems inherent in the aging process of portable units,” said Dr. Michael Mensch, chief operating officer. He added that the mechanical and electrical systems in the portable units malfunction frequently, are not energy efficient and cannot be updated.
During a space utilization study, the BOCES Board said it reviewed the size and condition of BOCES buildings, the instructional needs of its schools, and the projected future needs. The Board said it also evaluated available commercial space and found it to be too expensive.
To cast a ballot, a voter must be a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years of age and a resident of one of the 18 school districts in Western Suffolk BOCES for at least 30 days. Prior registration is not necessary.
Brennan Middle/High School is located at 550 Mount Avenue, North Babylon. Wilson Tech’s central campus is located at 17 Westminster Avenue, Dix Hills. Wilson Tech’s Manor Plains campus is located at 200 Little Plains Road, Huntington. For a map to the schools or for information about voting by absentee ballot call 549-4900, extension 222 or go to www.wsboces.org/referendum08.
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