Westbury board unanimously approves $3.4 million Smart Schools investment plan
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Summary
The Westbury Union Free School District Board of Education voted unanimously Dec. 16 to adopt its Smart Schools Investment Plan, using a roughly $3.4 million state Smart Schools allocation for security and network upgrades and other permitted technology projects.
The Westbury Union Free School District Board of Education unanimously approved the district’s Smart Schools Investment Plan on Dec. 16 after a final presentation and a required public hearing.
Mister Stein, a district staff member who led the presentation, said the district’s allocation from the 2014 New York State Smart Schools bond is $3,400,000 and described Phase 1 priorities as “to upgrade the district's high-tech security, and … to replace some of the school networking components.” He told the board the funds may be used for school security and safety, school networking, classroom technology, community connection, pre-K classroom improvements and elimination of temporary trailer classrooms.
Stein outlined the state rules he said govern the funds, noting they cannot be used to pay salaries, pay BOCES or purchase software. He said a Smart Schools planning committee that included a student, a parent and a teacher met on Dec. 3, 2024, and recommended the proposed plan be designated as the preliminary plan before the board. Stein said the plan was posted on the district website for a year for public comment and that no comments were received.
Under the plan as presented, Phase 1 work would focus on network upgrades and high-tech security measures that Stein listed as potential items such as electronic door-entry controls, generators for security networks and emergency communications, and an intrusion-detection system for all schools. Stein said any remaining funds after Phase 1 would be considered “evergreen” and available for other projects permitted by the program.
Board members first moved to close the public hearing and then took the vote to adopt the plan. Vice President Floyd Ewing moved to approve the Smart Schools Investment Plan and Trustee Kanes seconded. The board recorded unanimous ayes and the motion carried.
The board did not receive public comments on the plan at the posted hearing or during the committee comment period. The board will proceed with project planning and implementation consistent with the allowable uses Stein described and with state requirements tied to the Smart Schools program.
