Mount Sinai board approves bond action, clears routine business ahead of community vote

The Mount Sinai Union Free School District Board of Education on Sept. 17 approved an action to place a capital bond before residents and cleared routine business motions including minutes, personnel and educational and business items.

The move followed a superintendent report that the district’s capital project—previously approved by New York State—cleared a final administrative step with the board. The district scheduled the bond vote for Thursday, Sept. 25, at the high school from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., with an open house and STEAM night planned for the evening to provide information for voters.

Board members approved the meeting minutes from Aug. 27, personnel items A–D, educational action items A–B and business action items A–J before taking the bond action. Each motion passed by voice vote; the board did not provide roll-call tallies on the record.

Superintendent Dr. Critchione told the board that New York State has approved the capital project and that the district may now solicit vendors and contracts for work that includes elementary-school windows and doors, roadway and parking work, bus lanes, a full elementary roof replacement, playground and restroom upgrades, and maintenance projects at the middle and high schools. She directed residents to a district website tab labeled “Bond 2025” for project photos, renderings, frequently asked questions, and details on how to estimate the tax impact through the Town of Brookhaven.

The district also announced absentee-ballot instructions available through the district office and reiterated that the board expects vendors to begin work after community approval. Board members said they hope to begin site work by April if the bond is approved.

During public comment, a resident asked for an update on a district lawsuit against the state; the board said there was no update to report. A student speaker raised a personnel concern relating to an AP government class; the board declined to discuss personnel matters in open session and invited the student to speak to administrators privately.

Votes at a glance - Approval of minutes (08/27/2025): Motion accepted; outcome: approved; mover: Paul (board member); second: Christy (board member); vote: voice vote, tally not specified. - Personnel items A–D: Motion accepted; outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified on the record; vote: voice vote, tally not specified. - Educational action items A–B: Motion accepted; outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified on the record; vote: voice vote, tally not specified. - Business action items A–J: Motion accepted; outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified on the record; vote: voice vote, tally not specified. - Bond action item A (place bond before voters / approve bond action as listed): Motion accepted; outcome: approved; mover/second: not specified on the record; vote: voice vote, tally not specified.

The board set the next regular meeting for Oct. 22 and urged residents to visit the district bond web pages for details, including tax-impact estimates available through the Town of Brookhaven and absentee-ballot instructions.