The Bethlehem Central School District Board of Education has elected to split the proposal for facilities upgrades and a new athletic turf into two bond resolutions to go before the public.
On Wednesday, Jan. 2, board members unanimously agreed on what should be included in the facilities bond and if the plan should include a turf field with track. The facilities bond would include all priority one and half of the district’s priority two projects, and the field portion would include a new track with two additional lanes.
“My concern is that, based on the community input that I’ve been getting, it seems to me the only controversial element of this is the field and I would hate to endanger the main bond proposition because the community is opposed to the field,” said board member Michael Cooper.
The main facility bond would total $20.7 million and include major repairs to building roofs, ventilation systems, drainage improvements for fields, masonry and bathroom upgrades, among other improvements. Some of the work would also be eligible for energy performance contracting funds.
A major item within the plan that was up for debate Wednesday was the inclusion of internal cameras within the middle and high schools. The installation of cameras inside the buildings would cost $200,000, and some board members said they felt cameras to be an invasion of privacy for students.
“In a lot of studies it shows that the morale of the students goes down, there often is mistrust between students and administration once you put in the cameras, and I think it’s sending the kids the wrong message,” said board member Laura Bierman.
Board member Caitrin Navarro agreed.
“I think they’re more negative than positive, too,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a safety if no one is watching (the cameras). It’s strictly to catch kids doing things.”
School administrators and staff wrote a letter to the school board in favor of the cameras and Superintendent Tom Douglas said the cameras help during the interviewing process of students after an incident occurs.
Two high schools students at the meeting said they were in favor of having the cameras installed.
“Personally, I think they are a great idea as long as they are used properly,” said student Kevin Flynn. “I’m sure I don’t speak for the entire student body, but I think they could deter a lot of crime happening in the school.”
Flynn also suggested the district install some fake cameras to confuse students about which ones were legitimate.
It was ultimately decided in a 4-3 vote to keep the internal cameras in the plan.
The bond for a new turf athletic field would weigh in at $3.1 million. The plan would include modifications to the bleachers, pressbox, walkways, scoreboard and track.
“I think it will go forward as a separate bond,” said school board President Diane Giacone-Stever, adding that she feels the new field is needed after hearing about the extended uses of turf, how it is more cost effective and hearing stories from students and staff.
If both proposals were passed by the public, annual taxes would raise by $20.17 for a home valued at $100,000. That is assuming 70 percent of the project will be funded by the state and the district is able to get the current interest rate of 4 percent.
Before the referendum is officially voted on and a March vote set, a public hearing must be held and is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.