WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. August 29, 2006: Superintendent of Schools Timothy Connors reported today that the Board of Education voted to set the legal machinery in motion to place a referendum before the city voters October 17 (in a special election separate from the general election in November), to ask their approval to spend $69.6 million to build a new Post Road School, make additions to Mamaroneck Avenue School, construct a new Loucks Field and Parker Stadium, with synthetic turf; refurbish locker rooms at the high school, and conduct "Priority 1 and 2 Infrastructure" repairs to eleven other school district buildings.

Loucks Field, Spring 2006. Photo,WPCNR News Archive.

Model of The new $6 Million Loucks Field to be built on the Loucks present site at the high school displayed in November 2005 -- part of  the Board of Education bond issue the Board approved a referendum for last night to ask the voters to approve Monday evening. The stadium would provide White Plains the capacity and facilities to host national and state Championship events Photo, WPCNR Sports Archive.

The buildings which will be refurbished as part of the $69.6M  bond, should it be approved include Church Street School, Dammann House, Eastview School, Education House, George Washington School, the high school, Highlands Middle School, Mamaroneck Avenue School, Ridgeway School and Rochambeau School.

Mayor Joseph Delfino of White Plains made a rare appearance at the Board of Education meeting to present a letter from Super Developer Louis Cappelli's organization stating that Mr. Cappelli would contribute $1 million over four years towards the construction of the new Loucks Stadium.The Cappelli gift was first reported by WPCNR in June.

The bond issue, should the voters approve it, would be, WPCNR believes,  the most money borrowed by either the City of White Plains or the School District for a construction program in the history of the city. Taxpayers would begin to feel the impact of the bond service debt in next year's school budget (2007-2008), and would cost the owner of a $15,000 assessed home, approximately $70 per year more in additional school taxes, according to the School District.  

Work would begin on Post Road School construction in 2007 with completion target for September of 2010.