WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. October 12, 2005, UPDATED EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS; UPDATED 8:15 P.M. E.D.T. With New Finance Info: Russell Davidson of  Kaeyer Garment & Davidson presented the architectural firm’s 5 Year Plan for upgrading the City School District’s 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and the high school Tuesday evening, giving a figure of $83 Million to $95 Million to modernize the city’s schools to expand classroom sizes, upgrade athletic fields and bring code and infrastructure repairs in compliance with New York State Education Department and today’s construction standards.

"Infrastructure repairs” comprised $44 Million to $50 Million of the $95M. The Finance Committee for the School District is tentatively scheduled to meet November 1 at 4 PM at Education House to consider bonding scenarios for different degrees of the upgrade.

The highlight of the 5 Year Plan  includes building a new Post Road School at a cost of $31 Million, which Davidson noted was the best option of three available for the upgrading of the deteriorating Post Road building, that dates back, he said a 100 years. Upgrading the present school would cost $22 Million for a minimum makeover leaving the school with the same small classrooms it now has, Davidson said, while upgrading to larger classrooms would cost $29 Million almost as much as building a completely new school, shown here. Top view shows very preliminary design as seen from Sterling Avenue. Old Post Road School would stay in session while new one was built on present athletic fields. Upgrading the present school would require relocating the 478 children who attend that school to another location, Davidson said, making the new school option more advantageous.  The presentation took place at Education House Tuesday evening. Photo by WPCNR News

School District to Pick and Choose.

Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors said the process of deciding which priorities would be selected to be in the overall plan  would begin with a meeting of the Finance Committee, and in consultation with the schools and the members of the community. Connors told WPCNR it was too early to involve the city government in possible payment plans for the upgrade.

Mayor Observes

Mayor Joseph Delfino also made his first appearance at a Board of Education Meeting to hear the presentation. This is the Mayor's first appearance since WPCNR has been covering these meetings. Mayor Delfino agreed with Mr. Connors,  it was too early in the process to discuss sharing of the financial burden some way between city and school district, but pointed out no matter what budget the bond payments come from, the city budget or the school district budget, it all comes out of the citizen’s pocket in taxes.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains right, with Commissioner of Recreation and Parks, Arne Abramowitz, second from right, with Peter Bassano, and Bill Pollak (back to camera) of the Board of Education after the presentation. It was the first appearance of the mayor at a regular Board of Education meeting in at least five years. Photo by WPCNR News

Mayor Delfino and Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors after the meeting. Photo by WPCNR News

Finance Committee to See Bond Scenarios

Assistant Superintendent for Business, Terrance Schruers, told WPCNR it was too early to say what possible yearly payments the new bonding would cost the school district. He told WPCNR this morning that the Finance Committee would meet November 1 and that he was in the process of working with school bonding attorneys to craft different bond payment schedules he said would go out thirty years to pay for various combinations of the new construction and infrastructure upgrades. Schruers added that the bond schedules for future “substantial” certriorari settlements over the next year were going to be considered in addition to the district upgrading bond.

$5 Million a Year Added to School Budget? Could be more.

In speaking to a former banker, WPCNR has a rough estimate that the debt service the school district would incur on $95 Million over 30 years would mean approximately $5 Million  added annually to the school budget in 2006-2007, or whenever the debt service comes on stream. The budget is now sitting on $154.9 Million. WPCNR is attempting to get a firmer estimate.

Our banker got back to us this evening with an upgrade on his estimate. He writes via e-mail this evening:

Connors told WPCNR that he expected at this time to schedule a referendum on the bond issue by next September. He said he did not want to include the bond issue on the May 2006 School Budget Vote. Readers should know the total of the upgrade bond issue is subject to district decisions on which upgrades and construction projects (presented by the architects), to execute.

Construction in 3 to 4 years.

Davidson in his address and presentation, which my be seen in its entirety, Thursday evening, October 19 on the White Plains Cable Education Channel 77 at 7:30 PM, said an environmental review would have to be completed before the district could apply for a bond, and to the New York State Educational Department with the plans. It was estimated by Davidson construction could begin in about 3 to 4 years.

Athletic Fields Upgrades

The architectural firm presented a scaled down proposal for upgrading Loucks Field at White Plains High School, which is now estimated to cost $5 Million. This would include a press box, bleachers, locker rooms, lights and a synthetic turf field and a 10-lane state-of-the-art competitive track. This cost is down from the $7 Million price tag put on this stadium concept by a local community group which has raised approximately $500,000 towards the facility in five years.

$5 Million Loucks Field Plan. Photo, WPCNR News

A proposed upgrading of Parker Stadium at the Highlands was shown that was priced out at $2.9 Million which would raze the crumbling concrete bowl bleachers, install new bleacher seats and a press box, and a synthetic turf field.

$2.9 Million Highlands Parker Stadium Plan. Photo, WPCNR News

At Eastview two Astroturf fields were proposed as well as an Astroturf soccer field inside the oval for a cost of $4 Million. (This field was recently resodded at a cost of $300,000 to the city.)

$4 Million Eastview Fields Plan. Photo, WPCNR News

The Big Budget

The firm has recommended $13 Million in Architectural upgrades and infrastructure at White Plains High School, consisting mainly of creation of a culinary arts wing and a new science room;  $14.3 Million at Eastview middle school, to created a new entrance and administrative offices wing and the Eastview fields upgrade; $9.8 Million at Highlands (including the Parker Stadium upgrade);  $3.3 Million at George Washington School; $7.5 Million at Mamaroneck Avenue School’ $8 Million at Ridgeway School and $3.2 Million at Church Street School (the newest district building).

The Big Makeover in Small Print: The overall cost of the $95 Million Plan Broken Down by School. Photo by WPCNR News.