Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Bond topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pearl River district seeks $61.4 million bond to upgrade schools
Summary
The Pearl River Union Free School District is asking voters on May 19 to approve a $61.4 million capital improvements bond to renovate HVAC, roofs, safety systems and student spaces across K–12 buildings; the plan would use $2.2 million in reserves and is estimated to cost the owner of a $200,000 home about $373 a year over 15 years.
A staff member for the Pearl River Union Free School District said the district will ask voters on May 19 to approve a $61.4 million capital improvements bond to renovate aging infrastructure across all K–12 school buildings.
The bond package, presented as the district's 2026 capital improvements plan, focuses on three priorities: district-wide school renovations, safety and security upgrades, and investments in student support and programming. The presenter said the proposed project totals $63.6 million, including $2.2 million from capital reserves, with the bond amount to be borrowed set at $61.4 million.
"The proposed borrowing would address our aging school facilities and ensure that all students continue to learn in environments that support safety, well-being, and overall success," the staff member said.
District-wide renovations outlined by the presenter include major upgrades to heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, replacement of boilers and roofs, and new ceilings with brighter, energy-efficient lighting in classrooms and shared spaces. The plan also lists work on elementary multipurpose rooms and the middle school gym and cafeteria, plus upgrades to the high school gymnasium and auditorium.
On the condition of current systems, the presenter said the equipment is past its useful life and many roofs are over 20 years old, adding that failures are beginning to occur and upgrades are needed "for a safer space for the children to work in."
Safety measures in the proposal include improvements to lockdown communication systems, enhanced access control at building entrances, upgraded interior doors and hardware, and expansion of fire alarm systems.
The bond would also fund playground and outdoor-space improvements at elementary schools and renovations to library/media centers, computer rooms, technology and science classrooms, locker rooms and athletic fields at the middle and high schools.
The presenter provided an estimated taxpayer impact, saying the average additional cost would be about $373 annually for a home with an assessed value of $200,000 over the 15-year bond period. If voters approve the referendum, the presenter said construction is slated to begin in summer 2027 and be completed in fall 2029.
Detailed information is posted on the district website at pearlriver.org, the presenter added, and voters were urged to cast ballots on Tuesday, May 19.
