[{"_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",6622130,"mediaKeyId","2787635-26f640080a95be617efd8927c3b58339","parentId",2787635,"title","Votes at a glance: Pelham board authorizes four bond propositions for May 20 ballot and approves several routine agreements and policy updates","audioSeconds",1317,"startMs",10983000,"endMs",12300000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787635-26f640080a95be617efd8927c3b58339&start=10983&end=12300","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787635-26f640080a95be617efd8927c3b58339/thumbnail_10983000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622130/New-York/Votes-at-a-glance-Pelham-board-authorizes-four-bond-propositions-for-May-20-ballot-and-approves-several-routine-agreements-and-policy-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622130-be96d5ead64bdeb1c0ad2b5a76707bee/orig.mp4?Expires=1773698757&Signature=ZyTl8UXHTUoq1SsMuQci-Gix~2aV~f84eXjvGdKAkUtS8t1nmATMTWNvhNhFD~~93u3JxM5eL3FHXYvbvxg6YiS45bw-G8JYOa0WefGP0QSb7WdqE0JZgdcOpZ9-d9CANgM3L~IrPJvf7EFe~i6fogV3aUz2EefECYOnsI9UD1H4GQyhq57TaHcvDx4BRjNs8ztsbXUkJh2RwB0GD58J7orbUWHcDzGf3i5uuKwbRyvg7HZ2yQSZasH4zj0W4dzmDZCX8Qm85k9l8h5cx9PNafVzu6XRmrzLoYStPEOHJq9y5bqbQfr7TVO8mqBgYUF1rnBohrO~JRn07nKF9LkCHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","PELHAM UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-03-27T03:35:27.85Z","article","The Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education took several formal actions March 26. Below is a concise summary of each motion, the outcome recorded in the public meeting and key details for voters.

Votes at a glance

- Agreement with Westchester County to use county voting machines for the district election (agenda item 5.1)
- Motion: enter into an agreement with the County of Westchester for use of county voting machines at the annual election.
- Outcome: Approved (recorded as \"Aye; none opposed\").
- Notes: Standard annual agreement for the district's May 20 election.

- Authorization to place four bond propositions on the annual district ballot (agenda item 5.2)
- Motion: adopt resolutions to submit four separate bond propositions to voters at the May 20, 2025 annual election; the propositions cover districtwide infrastructure (including certain air-conditioning upgrades), a Sowenoy (Siwonoy) school addition and renovation, a high-school expansion to add common area and science labs, and geothermal installations at Prospect and Sowenoy (Sino/Siwonoy).
- Outcome: Approved (recorded as \"Aye; none opposed\").
- Notes: Administrators presented estimated annual tax-impact scenarios for sample assessed values and said they would publish more detailed tax calculators and voter materials before the election.

- Call for the annual school district budget vote and member election (agenda item 5.3)
- Motion: set the date and polling hours for the annual budget vote and school-board election (May 20; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.).
- Outcome: Approved (recorded as \"Aye; none opposed\").
- Notes: Standard timeline for voter information and absentee ballot deadlines to follow district practice.

- Agreement with Sarah Lawrence College for swimming-pool rental (agenda item 5.x)
- Motion: approve an annual permit/rental agreement for use of the Sarah Lawrence pool for district swim programs.
- Outcome: Approved (recorded as \"Aye; none opposed\").
- Notes: Agreement is consistent with current practice of contracting pool time offsite for swim programs.

- Routine policy updates and waiving third readings (policy items 6.1\t6.16)
- Motion: waive third readings and adopt a set of updated or new policies (including remote instruction, graduation requirements, athletics policy updates and student voter registration language among others).
- Outcome: Approved (recorded as \"Aye; none opposed\").
- Notes: Policies were updated to reflect current practice and state requirements; no substantive public objections were recorded at the meeting.

- Other routine board business
- The board approved routine operational items and adjourned the meeting.

Ending

The board's authorization to place four bond propositions on the May 20 ballot begins the formal public-education and outreach phase for the projects; administrators said they will publish voter guides and tax-impact calculators and meet with PTAs and community groups. Voter materials and more-detailed schedule/timing for borrowing and construction will be provided before the vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Events from the Pelham Public Schools -","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 26 meeting the Pelham Union Free School District Board approved resolutions to place four bond propositions on the May 20 ballot, authorized election-machine and facility agreements and adopted several updated policies after second reading.","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},6622133,"Pelham board hears line-by-line budget briefings; athletics growth and rising special-education needs drive staffing questions",1862,3207000,5069000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787635-26f640080a95be617efd8927c3b58339&start=3207&end=5069","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787635-26f640080a95be617efd8927c3b58339/thumbnail_3207000.jpg","/articles/6622133/New-York/Pelham-board-hears-line-by-line-budget-briefings-athletics-growth-and-rising-special-education-needs-drive-staffing-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622133-db584784a1ac6b8fde0e9e8827e66c6a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773698757&Signature=b6cd43Z2zvBo839c5UbLBmwNXuKmOOP41a9mNGK11fZw8e8EnBISatF4NroH0QyWO6qby9OyPfahxGQd2MaBSCjS8krTLIPk91VnM1MaBBE-jTMTQ07JumHEyiP5RaUkpdmAao7b1muUPeZDBzfkff-TWQqB6PGCyRkcib0T12cujuJYOERfXdGLHU6I622n4mMr1qF73sP1Vb1te5nnRGLJUK5UUM096Py7JyMrtDTswi5vYEgAzxZ0rZMZwm11z20yXRFJSHWWrEVQZUXFnK7UssCDTZfmhvx5~pfRjhEjmBKfnJ5WUO6~h3csmyASUUXVPwbKVhwRCBEismJn3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District staff on March 26 presented line-by-line budget briefings to the Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education, spotlighting athletics program growth and mounting special-education and related-services needs that will affect staffing and contract lines in the coming year.

Athletics

Joe Toombs, Director of Athletics, Health and Physical Education, told the board the district offers about 80 interscholastic athletics opportunities across fall, winter and spring seasons — about 27 fall offerings, 24 winter and 29 spring — and estimated roughly 601 unique students participate when players who play multiple sports are counted once. Toombs said staffing for events is substantial: the athletics office fills more than 100 seasonal positions each year, supports scorekeepers, clock operators and supervisors and manages 145 active purchase orders for equipment, rentals and event costs.

Toombs described new budget items and one-time repairs, and his office's approach to student interest and scheduling. He said the district added an equipment-manager/scheduler stipend this year and has begun funding a year-round strength-and-conditioning coach as a seasonal stipend to staff a new fitness center. He also said the district obtains rink time and merged-team arrangements for girls hockey and wrestling to make those sports available to smaller districts; Toombs estimated that adding ice time as an in-district program would add “between $50,000 and $100,000 conservatively.” He said reconditioning for football helmets and pads is an annual safety expense and that annual checks and scoreboard repairs also carry recurring costs.

Pupil Personnel Services and special education

Tracy (last name on file with district), who led the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) budget review, described increased referrals and higher needs among incoming preschool and school-age students. She said PPS is budgeting for additional monitors and one 8:1:2 special-education classroom at the elementary level next year and that related-services staffing (speech-language, occupational and physical therapy) is under strain.

Tracy told the board the district employs nine full-time school psychologists and maintains counseling, nursing and social-work lines. She warned speech services are particularly stretched: \"I'm a little concerned about speech services, honestly, because our speech pathologists are stretched to the extent that they are,\" she said. Tracy described variability in out-of-district tuition lines because placements and settlement agreements can shift students between BOCES programs, private approved schools and other public programs.

Grants and federal funding

Administrators also reminded the board that federal grant levels and pass-through funds affect service capacity. A district official summarized federal funding categories and said if certain federal funds decline districtwide it would increase pressure on the general fund; the business official said federal program reductions could require as much as “a little under a million dollars” of general-fund replacement if federal support were removed.

Staffing summary and enrollment monitoring

Doctor Fitzgerald (presenting staffing changes) said the staffing plan for next year shows a net reduction of 4.61 full-time equivalents overall driven by retirements and scheduling efficiencies, though the budget includes targeted increases: 1.4 FTE to meet secondary-level special-education needs and other grant-funded increases in the PPS psychologist allocation. Fitzgerald said the district maintains two contingency positions in a reserve to respond to midyear enrollment or need changes and that building administrators and counselors continue to monitor enrollment and course requests as scheduling is finalized.

Ending

Board members asked clarifying questions about field space, new sport feasibility, transportation and the interaction between grants and general funding. Administrators said they would continue to refine projections and present updated enrollment and staffing tables at future budget hearings.","Administrators presented detailed budget line-by-line reviews March 26, highlighting athletics growth and new staffing needs in pupil personnel services, including rising special-education, speech and related-service demand and a modest net FTE reduction driven by retirements and scheduling efficiencies.",{"_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},6622138,"Pelham public commenters press board to include ADA fixes in Siwonoy plan and question geothermal, environmental review",1851,1115000,2966000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787635-26f640080a95be617efd8927c3b58339&start=1115&end=2966","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787635-26f640080a95be617efd8927c3b58339/thumbnail_1115000.jpg","/articles/6622138/New-York/Pelham-public-commenters-press-board-to-include-ADA-fixes-in-Siwonoy-plan-and-question-geothermal-environmental-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622138-b3e665716f9d889ca3f93abdfc4a7b16/orig.mp4?Expires=1773698757&Signature=XTgsmutljUNEDTSg4Q3EDSRern8HL7JwIs-mhgxk6BIOfEy8FA0g0373oIml6yOgX~6JE2oRI~v~V5kszhQuwqsLAiQoIqsSjwc9VZjU1VF5aPmzQI~gln6Frtm6jARZsk5iW5qt3lStUWuzV27E-UWm9Dwb76anFKfP54EnRK3HozVDY~6XbnbNhp-guQJXpLcU0AGF~qXOTw8qDwqdkusK8w9T8gGAUdqawrpqxdX1c6hZFXqlHuRazVPEaqOLG1ggKlwaRmOXXQ~1xUhWePQutWWtIg8m9eInwyVKtGhjvxEZLyke8i2c6JCqLCNrjq7aBGxGN3njy~UVUhGhZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents at the Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education meeting on March 26 pressed the board to include full Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades and classroom expansions at Siwonoy School in upcoming bond propositions, and several speakers raised questions about the district’s geothermal proposal and the environmental review.

Many parents and PTA members said Siwonoy lacks instructional space and basic accessibility. Erin DeSimone, a Siwonoy parent, said she supported the district’s Proposition 1 work but urged the board “to reconsider the decision to separate Siwonoy’s ADA from Proposition 1,” adding, “Ensuring accessibility for all of our residents regardless of ability must remain the District’s top priority.” Madeline Mercer, speaking as a PTA member, told the board her group had high turnout and growing support for the expansion, saying community sentiment “is perhaps not as mixed as the original public comment led you all to believe.” Diana Milano, a kindergarten parent at Siwonoy, said the family “fully support[s] getting the extra classrooms and the space that our children need to thrive.”

Supporters described concrete problems they said the project would fix. Maura, a former educator, recounted small, unsafe classroom layouts at Siwonoy and said students receive certain interventions in hallways or converted closets, adding that such arrangements “violate the student's right to confidentiality.” Maria Gerson described a personal example and referenced Brooke Ellison’s story to argue that schools should adapt to ensure students with disabilities can attend.

At the same time, several commenters urged more scrutiny of the district's planned geothermal systems and of the environmental review form (EAF) filed with the project. Rich Ellenbogen, who said he has installed geothermal systems, warned they can be more expensive to operate in areas with fossil-fuel-heavy grids and said he believed alternate systems could save $150,000 to $270,000 annually. A resident identified as Katie asked the board to “consider redoing that EAF,” saying the form published March 12 was “factually flawed, incorrect, and leads to a conclusion which I think is incorrect and avoids doing a full environmental impact analysis.” The resident said the architect filled the form and that notice to the village as lead agency occurred on Feb. 7; the speaker asked the board to give additional scrutiny to potential long-term environmental impacts, including flood and foundation risks near drilling sites.

Others raised affordability and timing concerns about the multi-proposition bond package. Steve Chikane, a resident, criticized past spending increases and warned the proposed borrowing would make the district among the most indebted in Westchester. He told the board that the combined borrowing in several propositions amounted to more than $140 million in new debt and said that could push tax increases higher than current projections. The board and administrators responded with budget and timing details, noting the district and its financial advisers had modeled scenarios and that debt-service timing and state building-aid schedules affect how quickly property owners would see tax changes.

Board members, administrators and staff repeatedly told speakers they had heard their concerns and that district staff would continue to refine project design and public materials. Superintendent Doctor Champ (full name on file with district) and district staff emphasized coordination with the villages of Pelham and Pelham Manor on stormwater/flood mitigation scheduling and said the district would publish additional voter information and tax-impact scenarios before the May 20 vote.

Ending

The board did not adopt any new construction action during public comment; later in the meeting members approved a resolution to place four bond propositions on the May ballot (details appear in the votes roundup). Administrators said they would distribute further materials, run community briefings and publish tax-impact calculators to help voters evaluate each proposition.","Residents urged the Pelham Union Free School District Board of Education to prioritize ADA upgrades and classroom space at Siwonoy and raised concerns about geothermal heating, environmental review completeness and tax impacts on bond proposals placed on the May ballot.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Pelham board authorizes four bond propositions for May 20 ballot and approves several routine agreements and policy updates

Pelham board hears line-by-line budget briefings; athletics growth and rising special-education needs drive staffing questions

Pelham public commenters press board to include ADA fixes in Siwonoy plan and question geothermal, environmental review