Webutuck BOE seeks public input on capital improvement plans

WEBUTUCK — The $8.5 million capital improvement plan put forward by the North East (Webutuck) Central School District Board of Education (BOE) failed at the polls last December, only 181 in favor, 236 opposed.

Yet, according to Superintendent of Schools Ray Castellani, the work still needs to get done.

That’s why the superintendent and the school board are hoping members of the community will attend the BOE’s next meeting, set for Monday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the high school library.

“We want to figure out what our next steps are, so we’re inviting the public, like at every other board meeting,” Castellani said, adding there are 10 items that are a part of the project.

Most of them rate a “10” on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being critical, said the superintendent.

“There were components of it that were a 10,” he said, “such as the boiler, security, technology and septic fields. Then there are other ones that are more sixes, sevens or eights, in regard to sidewalks, blacktop and generators.”

They all amount to operational needs that must be addressed by the district — and quickly. Castellani said the BOE wants to learn why the last measure failed when voters went to the ballot box.

“We want to listen to the community voice about why the last project didn’t go through and if they would consider another project,” he said.

That could mean anything from just doing one portion of the project, like the boiler, to doing a few, many or none at all.

“We want to learn what the public will have a more difficult time supporting, and why,” said the superintendent. “We want to at least know if we can do something. Something needs to be done.”

The invitation for the public to attend the BOE meeting (again, there’s always a standing invitation), is “a true request from the board to listen to the stake holders,” said Castellani.

“The board didn’t just put a new project up,” he said. “It wants to hear what people have to say; it will be a very comfortable atmosphere for a discussion.”

Following the proposition’s defeat on Dec. 14, 2016, Webutuck Board of Education President Kristen Panzer said the board would regroup to figure out something more palatable to taxpayers.

“This work still needs to be done,” Panzer said. “We are charged with stewardship of these schools, so we presented our needs to the community, but it seems like some members of the community aren’t ready to support it just yet — we understand and respect the community’s concerns about costs — but we need to address the school’s needs,.”

Webutuck High School is located at 194 Haight Road, Amenia. The district office can be reached by calling 845-373-4104.