Plan For $4.8M Athletic Facility To Go Before Voters
/By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
The Cold Spring Harbor school board, pictured above, will put a referendum before voters early next year for a proposed $4.8-million bond to build a new physical education facility at Cold Spring Harbor Jr./Sr. High School.
Cold Spring Harbor school board members unanimously approved a resolution Nov. 8 to present a referendum before voters in January 2017.
The vote will determine whether or not the district can issue a $4.8 million bond to construct a new physical education facility at Cold Spring Harbor Jr./Sr. High School.
“We feel that it will enhance our physical education program considerably,” William Bernhard, assistant superintendent for business, said. “It will give us more options in terms of what we can offer.”
The planned two-story facility would be a 9,798-square-foot addition to the west side of the existing Ralph Whitney Field House at the high school, which is located at 82 Turkey Lane.
District officials said the facility would provide students with the opportunity for an active and healthy lifestyle, and will be available for physical education classes during period the school day. It would also be available to sports teams after school. Faculty would also be able to offer adult education courses at the facility.
Bernhard said it was time for an upgrade with an existing weight room in the basement of the high school.
Proposed improvements include original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances, and incidental improvements and expenses.
The first floor of the facility would feature offices for the athletic department, personnel training and storage, according to Bernhard, and the second floor would have a physical education area and space for aerobics, dance and movement.
“One of the things that we can do with the larger space is that we can incorporate new technology like precor machines, electronic equipment, and training equipment, that will be linked to apps such as MyFitnessPal,” he said. “It’s going to be state-of-the-art facility, where we intend to use new technology, and offer more differentiation and choice as far as the physical activities are concerned.”
The annual debt service payment for the 20 year $4.8 million bond would be $300,770, which would cost the average taxpayer $98 a year, he said.
He added that if the vote is approved come January, the district would then seek approval from New York State after submitting design plans.
“Once the plans are approved, then we will borrow the money to build a facility,” Bernhard said. “It will be at least a minimum of a year before we could actually issue the bonds because we still have to construct the design for the building.”
Polls will be open Jan. 18, 2017, 7 a.m.-9 p.m., at Cold Spring Harbor High School’s Ralph Whitney Field House.
