New bond proposed in Edgemont

A less costly version of the bond rejected last spring will be put to a vote in October.

BY BLAKE FEINSTEIN

On August 20, the Edgemont School District introduced a new “repackaged” bond with a reduced scope from the one narrowly rejected in May. The new bond, estimated to cost $62.1 million, is set for a vote on Monday, October 7, 2024. (This timing is necessary because polling machines are unavailable for one month on both sides of the upcoming general election.) “Edgemont’s buildings and facilities do not meet the standard of excellence that we strive for in all other facets of our students’ education,” Board of Education President Jennifer DeMarrais stated. As a result, the district maintains that this bond is essential in order for Edgemont’s schools to thrive.

Several controversial projects have been removed by the district, bringing the estimated cost to $4.7 million less than the May 2024 bond. The majority of sitework at all three schools has been abandoned for now. At EHS, a new access road starting at Artillery Lane has been scrapped, as have the renovation of an existing parking lot on Old Colony Road and the construction of a new parking lot nearby. At Greenville Elementary School, alterations to the main parking lot, sidewalks, and traffic circle have all been scrapped, along with a proposed new parking lot. Seely Place Elementary School will not receive a new parking lot on Ardsley Road. While these projects have been dropped, the district stressed that it “remains committed to addressing the concerns that resulted in the above proposed solutions.”

The proposed bond still addresses a large variety of concerns, including air conditioning, cafeteria renovations, STEAM classrooms, and security upgrades. More details about the proposed improvements, timelines, and tax impact will be announced in future Board of Education meetings on September 3 and September 17. The presentation from the August 20 BOE meeting is available here.