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Bethlehem board certifies $60 million capital bond, approves routine personnel and finance items
Summary
The Bethlehem Central School District board certified the Feb. 3 bond referendum at its meeting and approved multiple finance, professional and support-staff actions; the superintendent said the $60,000,000 bond will fund classroom renovations, air conditioning and infrastructure with construction expected to begin in 2027.
The Bethlehem Central School District Board of Education unanimously certified the results of the Feb. 3 capital bond referendum and approved several routine finance and personnel items during its meeting.
Superintendent Jody Monroe read a resolution declaring that the 2025 capital bond project “passed with 80%, 1,450 votes voter approval and 20, 352 votes against,” and the board approved the certification by voice vote. Monroe said the $60,000,000 project will be submitted to the State Education Department for review and that construction is targeted to begin in 2027.
Monroe described the bond allocation, saying classroom renovations will account for roughly 34% of the bond and air‑conditioning improvements about 17%, with remaining funds going to infrastructure and safety upgrades. She said some elementary classroom renovations will require temporary student relocations beginning in fall 2027 and that architects will start with Ellesmere.
The board also approved routine finance action items and a slate of professional personnel actions (items 1–18), as well as two support‑staff items. One personnel appointment confirmed at the meeting was the selection of a new Eagle elementary school principal, identified in the personnel roster as Dave DeMell; the appointee thanked the board and school community.
Board members asked a question about the scope of one temporary additional class; Monroe clarified it was an extension to cover staffing until a new hire takes a permanent role. Two abstentions were recorded during a support‑staff vote, according to the meeting record.
The board approved minutes from the Jan. 21, 2026 regular meeting and from the Feb. 3, 2026 capital bond vote earlier in the agenda.
What’s next: Monroe said the district will begin post‑design work and submit plans to the State Education Department as part of the project timeline. The board’s next scheduled meeting is Feb. 25, 2026.
