Warwick schools capital project defeated

Voters in the Warwick Valley School District on Wednesday, Dec. 19, defeated a proposed $14.9 million capital project in a vote that, in the view of some of its board members, had a higher turnout than annual budget votes - despite cold weather and the timing right before the Christmas holiday when people might otherwise be engaged.

Out of a possible 17,227 registered school district voters, 2,132 residents - or 12.4 percent of all voters - cast their votes - 1,363 opposed, 769 in favor. The tally, which is unofficial until the School Board certifies the results, represents 64 percent opposed versus 36 percent approving.

The results seemed to take the board by surprise, members noting that the vote wasn’t even close.

Athletic Director Greg Sirico, who was accompanied by about 15 supporters of the project, said he “Want(ed) to thank you (BOE) for the opportunity.”

The proposition, had it succeeded, would have used monies from the district’s capital reserve fund ($5.4 million), plus state aid ($9.5 million), to make repairs to the high school auditorium and roof; replace AC chillers at the high school and Sanfordville Elementary; replace Sanfordville’s boiler; replace windows and renovate the media center at Park Avenue Elementary, among other improvements district-wide.

The most contentious part of the proposed capital project was a plan to replace natural grass fields at the high school and Sanfordville with artificial turf. District residents made impassioned pleas to the school board before the vote, pro and con, in the weeks before the vote.

Several residents urged the board to decouple the turf issue from the rest of the proposed projects.

“As with all capital projects,” Warwick Valley Schools Superintendent Dr. David Leach said, “the voters have the final say.”

The board expects to certify the results in the next few days.