Sayville board approves placing budget, capital-reserve measures and scholarship donation on the ballot

The Sayville Union Free School District board voted during a workshop meeting to place the district budget and a set of capital‑reserve expenditures on the public ballot and to treat a $10,000 donation to the Sandy Digillian Nursing Scholarship Fund as a separate, separately voted item.

Board procedure and votes: The board considered recommended actions grouped as items 601 and 602; a motion for item 601 was made by Chris and seconded by Kelly and recorded as approved. Item 602 was moved and seconded (mover Kathy; second Tom) and carried with five yes votes and one abstention; speaker 20 said the abstention was not a disagreement with the substance. Later, the board moved to place items 701–706 (budget and capital reserve matters) on the ballot; those motions were made and seconded and recorded as passed. The meeting also recorded approval of items 8.01–9.01.

What the capital reserve covers: Administrators explained the capital‑reserve proposal would authorize the use of previously‑set‑aside funds (the district reported a capital reserve established after COVID funds were set aside in 2023) for specified projects: upgraded lighting and sound in the high school theater, relocating the weight room from the basement to the wellness center, enhanced math classrooms for grades 6–12, and improved security cameras and exterior perimeter work at all schools. The superintendent and business office clarified that the reserve funds already exist and that the ballot will ask voters to authorize spending from that fund.

Scholarship donation and ballot format: During discussion the board agreed to separate the $10,000 Condon family/Condon Foundation donation to the Sandy Digillian Nursing Scholarship Fund as its own voted item (presenters said it will be treated as a separately voted issue on the ballot).

Next steps and context: Board members said ballot language and public materials will be prepared for voters; if voters approve the capital reserve spending, the funds would be spent for the listed projects, and if voters reject it, the money would remain in reserve or be repurposed later. The board closed the public portion of the meeting by voting to enter executive session to discuss personnel matters.

What to watch: The ballot placement means the wider Sayville community will decide on using the capital reserve and the district budget in an upcoming vote; the board emphasized the capital reserve consists of previously designated funds rather than new borrowing.