Wappingers proposes $153 million capital project to add classrooms, expand special-education and UPK programs

Superintendent Dr. Bonk on Feb. 10 presented a preliminary 2025–26 budget and a proposed $153 million capital project aimed at expanding elementary capacity, bringing universal prekindergarten (UPK) into district schools, and increasing space for special-education and bilingual services.

The proposal, Dr. Bonk said, is intended to preserve existing programs and create new capacity while keeping the levy increase under the tax cap. "It is my goal and objective ... to come in with a budget that is below the tax cap," Dr. Bonk said. She told the board the proposed tax levy would rise from $190,000,000 to $193,000,000 — a levy-to-levy increase of about 1.5 percent — and described the capital project as a multi‑year effort likely to take about five years to complete if approved.

Why it matters: administrators told the board classroom space at elementary schools is at or near capacity, limiting the district’s ability to house integrated co‑taught (ICT) classes, self‑contained special‑education services and bilingual programs in students’ neighborhood schools. Without more space, staff said, students are being educated outside their home buildings and the district must rely on out‑of‑district placements for some needs.

Darren Lokema, assistant superintendent for administration and information systems, and district facilities staff walked trustees through a district facilities needs assessment that the administration will post online. "Student needs have outgrown the current physical space at our elementary schools," Lokema said during the presentation, noting integrated co‑taught classrooms and related‑service spaces are full in multiple buildings. The presentation identified examples at several schools where instruction, related services, counseling or testing are being held in hallways, cafeterias, stages or converted storage space.

Administrators described program impacts and possible remedies: adding more classroom capacity at elementary schools; bringing UPK from community partners back into school buildings; creating dedicated bilingual classrooms where state enrollment thresholds trigger bilingual program requirements; and providing sensory/communication spaces for students with complex needs. The facilities analysis cited a Western Suffolk BOCES long‑range planning study and noted the study did not include several large residential projects that are still in local application phases.

Special education and out‑of‑district placements were a central part of the financial case. Richard Zipp, assistant superintendent for student support services, told the board the district currently has roughly 2,160 school‑age special‑education classified students, about 18.5 percent of the enrollment; approximately 250 to 300 students attend out‑of‑district programs. Zipp said out‑of‑district tuition for day placements can run roughly $100,000 per student and residential placements more, and he estimated the district’s total cost for out‑of‑district placements at about $25 million. "Increasing the number of seats and programs available will allow us to keep more students in district," Zipp said.

Administrators said the draft capital project would provide "over 30" classrooms districtwide and would fund HVAC and air‑handling upgrades in older buildings — work officials tied to state guidance on heat and building temperatures — plus athletic‑field improvements and additions at middle and high school campuses.

Budget and tax impact: the district estimates roughly $67 million in state building aid over the life of the bond; the administration used sample taxpayer impacts to illustrate cost, saying an average home assessed at $400,000 would see an estimated increase of about $25.50 per month (approximately $0.83 per day) under the full project as presented. The superintendent reiterated the district would continue public outreach, community videos and additional budget presentations in March and April ahead of the May 20, 2025 budget vote.

Board questions focused on how many students could be returned from out‑of‑district placements if additional in‑district programs were funded, the number of additional UPK teachers needed if UPK classrooms were brought into schools, and whether projected residential development could change enrollment forecasts. Finance staff Kristen Dainty and administrators estimated bringing a significant share of students back in‑district could produce material tuition savings; district staff said prior hires and program capacity could be repurposed to reduce the number of entirely new hires required.

What’s next: the administration said the facilities presentation and background slides will be posted on the district website and on the WCSD video page; the board continued discussion and accepted the facilities study for public review. The board did not vote on the capital proposition itself at the Feb. 10 meeting. Dr. Bonk said the administration supports the full proposal as presented: "This project has my full support as superintendent in its entirety."