NO NEW TURF FIELDS...

[Chris_Wendt]

...for Sewanhaka CHSD.

Voters defeated a $99.5 Million bond proposition in a sneaky, out-of-period vote last night. The margin was close (2,412 YES vs. 2,705 NO), but as a Central High School District, 3 of the 4 communities defeated the proposition.

There are five (5) high schools in the Sewanhaka CHSD:

• Sewanhaka
  
• H. Frank Carey
  
• New Hyde Park Memorial
  
• Elmont Memorial
  
• Floral Park Memorial

All were to have gotten synthetic turf fields plus a lot of other upgrades and repairs.
I think the other thing that killed this bond, in addition to holding the vote in December, was the huge total price.

See Newsday story before the vote (link).
See NHP Patch article about the bond defeat (link).

If Wantagh ever does another bond, I sincerely hope the BoE would step-up and put the bond proposition on a May ballot along with the school budget and the BoE Trustee election. However, I am not suggesting that Wantagh should be considering another bond, not for the next 4-5 years.

Food for thought.

Chris Wendt

[Chris_Wendt]

To add some perspective to this report, the following amounts were being proposed for athletic fields in the Sewanhaka Central High School District:
H. Frank Carey.............3.94 Million
Elmont Memorial...........1.44 Million
Floral Park Memorial......1.56 Million
New Hyde Park.............4.38 Million
Sewanhaka...................2.55 Million
ATS Facility Fields.........1.54 Million
Total Athletic Fields..15.41 Million

I think the total called into question what this bond was really all about, and what should the priorities of that district actually be.

It is noted with adulation that H. Frank Carey Football just completed an undefeated season and has won the Nassau County and Long Island Class II Championships.

Chris Wendt