Board schedules $153.8 million capital-improvement proposition after hours of debate; trustees split on splitting question

The Wappingers Central School District Board of Education voted to place a $153,768,000 capital-improvement proposition on the May 20 ballot after an extensive public and trustee debate on March 10 that ranged from immediate building repairs to proposed additions at junior-high campuses.

The proposition, which the district’s administration and the capital committee described as including major renovations, site and athletic-field improvements and up to 28 new classrooms across two junior-high schools, generated sustained discussion about taxpayer impact, enrollment trends and whether to split the package into two voter propositions.

Why it matters: the proposition would authorize borrowing for a broad set of renovations and new construction across elementary, middle and high school facilities. If approved by voters, the plan would lead to multi‑year construction and reimbursements under state building aid; opponents and supporters both said timing and cost…