[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6629356,"mediaKeyId","2704332-3efac196f47bbe0e29a6aadb7a37d0b7","parentId",2704332,"title","Pelham board splits bond proposals, puts ADA work at Simonoy before voters and keeps geothermal separate","audioSeconds",5235,"startMs",1408000,"endMs",6643000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2704332-3efac196f47bbe0e29a6aadb7a37d0b7&start=1408&end=6643","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2704332-3efac196f47bbe0e29a6aadb7a37d0b7/thumbnail_1408000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629356/New-York/Pelham-board-splits-bond-proposals-puts-ADA-work-at-Simonoy-before-voters-and-keeps-geothermal-separate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629356-83fdb9d76b2d471b770269ca8d8c10fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115496&Signature=jOGaU~FQjZxXGQlPLN65BbYXy9pBxXc5L8gndvxN~ddojFzKv4qPHOnoXTN8nyidemPBTM9aZnHzA2Y3zELWIpq4oaW38chk7XoYw8l-0W-00rmeZQPofMflXHokiBH-HDo6-mUVMOAje4GPSLhoP8e53fb-kcMDqE7Te4T59QmxtD794MMMEjhF~2FeHNfTDE3G3aMYHDK4jwe-7qJfEe3uCpasoEzA8KOGq-1kXJD2Y5XU7sQDdTMgv4exLgqW3XkO9E9ZicnJLHSIM-q6kmkCtl2yh0gEiWm7Il~rV2WafWsi~A~BdYBvh4X7bSuvXaDv1YspFh62hTVa2SD84Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-03-20T03:35:30.907Z","article","The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education on March 19 agreed to divide a proposed capital-improvement bond into multiple propositions rather than present a single omnibus question to voters.

The board and district staff said the split is intended to give voters clearer choices on urgent building repairs and accessibility work while allowing individual projects to move forward without dragging unrelated items into a single yes-or-no decision.

Board discussion and public comment focused on the Simonoy School (Sowenoy/Sinoinoy in some materials), which requires elevators and other changes to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act and would need an expansion to replace classrooms lost when elevators are installed. The board agreed to make Simonoy’s package a separate proposition and to include elementary-school central air conditioning in the districtwide infrastructure proposition rather than in a geothermal proposition.

Why it matters: District officials said separating the items reduces the risk that voters will reject essential districtwide infrastructure if they oppose elements specific to one school. The board also asked bond counsel to draft ballot language that will reflect the board’s direction and any dependencies among propositions.

What the board decided and the reasons given
- Structure: The district will ask voters to consider (1) a districtwide infrastructure package that includes elementary central air conditioning (excluding Simonoy), (2) a Simonoy package that combines ADA compliance and an 8-classroom addition, (3) a high-school expansion package, and (4) a geothermal energy package. The board asked counsel to draft final ballot language and to identify any propositions that should be conditional on others.
- Simonoy separation: Jackie (board president) told the meeting the district cannot complete major infrastructure work at Simonoy without doing the ADA upgrades that trigger the loss of several existing rooms. “In order to do any major work at SAWENOY, we need to do the ADA work,” Jackie said, explaining why the Simonoy package was pulled out.
- Elementary air conditioning: The board settled on including elementary central air conditioning with the districtwide infrastructure package, not with the geothermal item. Board members said central AC in elementary schools is needed for student comfort and to support year-round programming.
- Geothermal left separate: The board left a geothermal proposal separate so voters can decide on that measure independently. The board also asked architects and engineers to provide additional technical details on geothermal so bond counsel can draft clear, implementable ballot language.

Costs and tax estimates presented to the board
District staff and consultants presented a range of cost scenarios and estimated tax impacts for several packaged outcomes. The board received these figures during the meeting and discussed them as it finalized the proposition structure:
- Districtwide infrastructure (excluding Simonoy) plus elementary AC: approximately $56 million; district staff said that package would be essentially tax neutral based on the district’s current capacity.
- Simonoy package (ADA/expansion): roughly $42.57 million (figure presented by staff during the meeting).
- High school expansion package: roughly $40.35 million (figure presented during the meeting).
- Geothermal add-on (prospect and Simonoy as initially scoped): staff said the incremental cost presented earlier was about $4.5 million for those two schools.
District staff provided example household impacts for the full set of projects as presented that night. Using the full combination shown by the district, staff cited an illustrative total annual tax increase of about $926 for a house assessed at $850,000, $1,297 for a house assessed at about $1.19 million, and $1,662 for a house assessed at $1.5 million if every package were approved and fully implemented. The district emphasized these were model scenarios to help voters compare options and that the final ballot language and scope could change based on the board’s direction and bond counsel’s drafting.

Geothermal and system options: technical overview and concerns
Engineers and an energy consultant who attended the meeting described tradeoffs among ground-source (geothermal), air-source heat-pump or variable-refrigerant-flow (VRF) systems and conventional high-efficiency hydronic heating. Jim Dolan of OLA Consulting Engineers, who advised on systems, said closed-loop ground-source systems are widely used in the region and can avoid outdoor noise from condensers: “Air-source equipment, it’s louder. Ground loop quiet.” He added closed-loop systems use HDPE piping and do not directly exchange with groundwater.

Several residents raised concerns about geothermal reliability, cost, and potential construction impacts. Rich Ellenbogen, a local resident who described long experience with geothermal installations, told the board: “The geothermal system is not the best way to go for school. A variable refrigerant flow system with a gas backup for 500 hours a year would be much more cost effective and much cheaper.” Board members asked engineers to provide additional comparative lifecycle, maintenance and resiliency estimates before the final bond resolutions are drafted.

Next steps
Bond counsel will draft the formal proposition language to reflect the board’s direction and any contingencies the board wants on geothermal or other elements. The board asked staff to return proposed resolution language at the next meeting to meet statutory timelines for a May bond vote. Officials also said they will continue to publish detailed cost breakdowns and hold community briefings so voters can compare propositions before the vote.

Community reaction at the meeting
Dozens of residents spoke at public comment. Parents and neighbors voiced a range of positions: several stressed the urgency of Simonoy’s ADA and space issues and said they supported the Simonoy package, while others urged a smaller scope or a pause so the community could consider alternatives. Concerns included construction noise, parking and utility disruptions, water-table and foundation effects from drilling, and whether the district can staff newly built classrooms under current operating-budget constraints.

Ending
Board members said they will continue community outreach and data-sharing ahead of finalizing ballot language. The board’s next steps include having bond counsel draft the propositions as directed and returning the draft resolutions for board action at the next regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Events from the Pelham Public Schools -","oneSentenceSummary","The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education on March 19 agreed to divide a proposed capital-improvement bond into multiple propositions — separating districtwide infrastructure and elementary air conditioning from a Simonoy-specific ADA/expansion package, and keeping geothermal and the high-school expansion as separate questions for voters.","taxTitle","PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",48009,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629345,"Board waives readings, adopts updated tobacco and smoking policy to include vaping and cannabis on school property",76,13991000,14067000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2704332-3efac196f47bbe0e29a6aadb7a37d0b7&start=13991&end=14067","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2704332-3efac196f47bbe0e29a6aadb7a37d0b7/thumbnail_13991000.jpg","/articles/6629345/New-York/Board-waives-readings-adopts-updated-tobacco-and-smoking-policy-to-include-vaping-and-cannabis-on-school-property","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629345-535041951bd2660706777a6498b2ec6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115496&Signature=kiAX8Sn7jg2JOjHqYPxJgdENXJM2c8R8uaeF4uglO158wK5KXxZuhPoKGRQ8Vp9U~hTwefCig9uV0hbP76cz3yA10fi9fwboYYwPSNJu2Ctotely2p4v-DX7cgYb7u-gSGHnuuIOSxmNPuToi1B5v9rj7GfPjd~MkyEoi-t6xNg1BrOsIvEM73R4R2xBF4ByKImT7U3UqD0KFiDsYRTXg5Rsyytt5w-~dDJ1aaz1UAIYbUheZQGJtNNFs5hl-pa~rohdbPsUhDGJpY2TZHtSd3VmQQK9qymu~MPQOzm8lVhgFc1yRj8Ia3CpGV6y8Oradz4DU8sFY~kEgDewP4zdIg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education on March 19 voted unanimously to adopt revisions to Policy 5640, which updates the district’s rules about tobacco and similar substances on school property and at school-sponsored activities.

The board agreed to waive the remaining required readings and to adopt the revised language so that district staff could begin producing and installing signage for athletic fields and building entrances before spring sports and outdoor events. The revised policy explicitly includes vaping devices and cannabis-related products among the prohibited items.

What happened in the meeting
A district staff member explained the revisions are intended to harmonize the policy with current law and with changes in product availability since the policy was last reviewed. The board voted to waive the third reading and approve the updated policy; the vote was recorded as unanimous in the meeting minutes.

Why it matters
The policy clarifies that tobacco, vaping devices and cannabis products are prohibited on district property and during district events for all individuals (students, staff, visitors). District leaders said clearer signage will help make enforcement straightforward and will remind adults and families that school property is smoke- and vapor-free.

Vote and implementation
The board’s formal vote to adopt Policy 5640 was unanimous, and staff were directed to prepare signage for school grounds and fields to reflect the updated prohibitions.","Pelham’s board unanimously adopted a revised policy prohibiting tobacco, vaping and cannabis use on district property and at school activities, waiving the remaining readings so staff can install signage in time for spring sports and field use.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629350,"Pelham superintendent: capital bond cannot pay salaries; board weighs staff reductions and calendar framework",579,1649000,2228000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2704332-3efac196f47bbe0e29a6aadb7a37d0b7&start=1649&end=2228","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2704332-3efac196f47bbe0e29a6aadb7a37d0b7/thumbnail_1649000.jpg","/articles/6629350/New-York/Pelham-superintendent-capital-bond-cannot-pay-salaries-board-weighs-staff-reductions-and-calendar-framework","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629350-2b08e074521172186d8a9416aaaec501/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115496&Signature=nFEbX~gAnxq0mkAuIhRIcOZX4Va9MeBWCu3RTm1Idnf~BbzaueicY91qUO8Yg3dN2dO5Mc~J-qR1FACGIzoDf8bEris9x4J0XHhZAPas-vCWGT3K1Rifs4PfwoisyJ4C~hEUa7J59qSEXKZ6n0OtrEkzaqvg56xF7OLQdLIKBzX3KkgmCIcN1eL3mNkdJ3UmuURHdGd~uuMtXKI-BqK8zwun1BZwamzS1rG-sT1Z3o1V3dEHaLJ2lEz9m7-n0TxvsYJu3h5JRjGtbsWrkNE~tt5K7J3fp2A2PuU6VGY0dhgsCqEuualqno3yQpZyYyV28VRUvfxOxTVMXJJSyit34A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pelham Union Free School District Superintendent Dr. Champ (name as given in the meeting) told the board on March 19 that capital bond proceeds cannot be used to pay for district staffing, and that the district is proceeding cautiously on both staffing and facilities planning.

“You can’t use capital bond money to pay for staffing. You can’t cut staffing to pay for capital projects,” Dr. Champ said while briefing the board on the draft operating budget and the proposed bond projects.

Why it matters: Several parents at the meeting warned that proposed operating-budget adjustments would increase average class sizes at elementary schools even while the bond seeks additions in some buildings. The superintendent and principals said operational and capital decisions are linked in voters’ minds, even though the funds come from different legal sources.

What the superintendent told the board
- Staffing and budget process: Dr. Champ said the district’s operational budget must be set under the state tax-cap rules and that capital projects are financed separately. She said the district is working under a tax cap and has 12 teacher retirements and one TA retirement this year, and is using enrollment projections to decide where to fill or reduce sections. “That process is ongoing,” she said, noting the district maintains a 2 percent contingency and two contingency positions in staffing to handle fluctuations.
- Class sizes and space: The superintendent described current space constraints at Simonoy and elsewhere and said the current bond proposal would provide a net gain of three classrooms at Simonoy after accounting for rooms lost to elevator installations. “The proposed project is a net gain of 3 classrooms… and that 3 net gain could help us in many ways,” she said.
- Calendar framework: Dr. Champ presented a framework for the 2025–26 school-year calendar that sets start and end dates and major vacation periods but leaves parent-teacher conference and professional learning day scheduling to be finalized after additional consultations. The calendar framework was included in the meeting’s consent items and will be finalized by the board in the coming months.

Public comment and parental concerns
During public comment parents raised two linked concerns: (1) that the operating budget reductions could increase class sizes and reduce the district’s ability to staff new space created by a successful bond, and (2) that the bond’s capital additions might create future operating costs the district cannot afford under the tax cap. A parent suggested the community consider a separate levy to preserve small class sizes; the superintendent said she understands the political reality but reiterated that tax-cap rules and the different legal treatment of capital versus operating funds limit options.

Board action
The board approved a consent agenda that included the calendar framework and several administrative items. (See Votes at a glance.) The superintendent and the board said they will continue to brief parents and staff as the budget and bond process continues.

Ending
District officials said staff will keep updating enrollment and staffing projections as families move in or out, and that final hiring and sectioning decisions will occur closer to next school year once updated enrollment data are available.","Superintendent Dr. Champ told the Pelham board March 19 that proposed capital projects and the operating budget must be treated separately, describing staffing reductions in the draft budget and the board approved a calendar framework to enable special-education and operational planning.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pelham board splits bond proposals, puts ADA work at Simonoy before voters and keeps geothermal separate

Board waives readings, adopts updated tobacco and smoking policy to include vaping and cannabis on school property

Pelham superintendent: capital bond cannot pay salaries; board weighs staff reductions and calendar framework