Propositions Include Roof Repairs, the Development of a State-of-the-Art Career and Technical Education Center, and the Enhancement of Facilities for Fine and Performing Arts
Farmingdale, NY—The Farmingdale School District has announced the scheduling of a bond referendum vote for Tuesday, January 7, 2025, that includes two propositions. Proposition One focuses on roof repairs and replacements at all six school buildings in the District. All existing roofs are original to the buildings, significantly exceeding the 20-year expected lifespan of the roofing materials. They are also out of warranty, making continued maintenance more expensive and difficult. Proposition One also calls for the upgrading of the District’s electric infrastructure, ensuring future capacity for additional core curricular activities and the support of ongoing technology upgrades and power requirements.
Proposition Two focuses on the needs of the District’s Career and Technical Education program and the District’s Fine and Performing Arts program. As noted by Superintendent of Schools Paul Defendini, “In 2016, the Farmingdale community approved a referendum that allowed us to give our growing varsity and junior-varsity athletes the facilities they deserved. Equally important, our sports complex, including our aquatic center, created opportunities for our community that did not exist before. With Proposition Two of this referendum, we are looking to do the same thing for the over 1,000 students in our CTE and Fine and Performing Arts high school programs - replace our aging and inadequate facilities in these two areas with updated, modern spaces that will better serve our students’ education and skills development. These spaces will also provide opportunities for community use and deepen the connections between our community and students.
The proposed referendum totals $78 million, of which $22.15 million is for roof and electrical upgrades, and $55.85 million is for CTE and Fine and Performing Arts physical space additions, a new and repositioned high school health office to enhance building security, and a new and expanded security vestibule and front entrance. Proposition One must be approved by voters for Proposition Two to pass.
“State aid will pay for over 55 percent of total bond costs, amounting to over $43 million coming from State sources,” noted Assistant to the Superintendent for Business Michael Motisi. “Additionally, because current District debt will be coming off the books as new debt will be coming on, the tax impact on Farmingdale residents will be greatly reduced. Based on current market conditions and projections of what the bond market will be when these bonds are sold, it is estimated the annual tax impact for the average Farmingdale School District homeowner of both propositions being approved will be limited to $70 per year for the life of the bonds. “This philosophy of managing District debt enables the District to both manage taxpayers money and construct new facilities that will provide unprecedented opportunity for both our students and our community.”
Superintendent Defendini added, “We are excited to take this step into the future and provide our students with the best opportunities to reach their full potential. Just as we have made great strides in our physical education and sports programming with the creation of our sports complex, we are looking to move our CTE and Fine and Performing Arts programming to a higher level, offering greater opportunities for our students to follow their passions and career interests.”
To help ensure residents in the Farmingdale community have all the information they need to make an informed vote on January 7, 2025, the District has arranged a series of presentations and workshops, created a dedicated Bond referendum section on the District website that includes a portal for residents to submit questions, and will be mailing out information newsletters to the community. For more information about Bond 2025 and to access a detailed calendar listing of when and where the District’s meetings will take place, visit the District’s website at www.farmingdaleschools.org.
The referendum vote will take place on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at the Weldon E. Howitt Middle School West gymnasium from 6:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.