The Onteora Central School District Board of Education moved closer Tuesday to finalizing plans for a December referendum on a $42 million capital spending proposal—far smaller than the $70.5 million plan rejected by voters in May—as the district continues preparing for an eventual consolidation at its Boiceville campus.
The board is expected to formally vote at its Oct. 21 meeting to schedule the referendum for Dec. 10.
The revised proposal is divided into two parts. Proposition 1, totaling $27 million, focuses on Bennett Elementary School, adding eight classrooms, an art room, an expanded library, and a range of infrastructure upgrades. Proposition 2, valued at $15 million, would fund new windows and lighting at Bennett, upgrades to its music room, renovations to three high school science classrooms and the nurses’ suite, drainage improvements to athletic fields, and resurfacing of the track.
The referendum does not directly address the board’s controversial plan to close Woodstock Elementary School at the end of the 2027–28 school year—a key factor in the failure of the May vote. On Tuesday, the board again agreed to table that resolution, which several members described as a “distraction.”
However, the board does agree that more classrooms at Bennett are needed to accommodate students who would eventually move from Woodstock. Without new classrooms, the option facing the board is to move fifth graders into the middle school.
“The resolution clarifies for the voters that we agree on moving forward to a central campus by September 2028,” said Board President Cindy Bishop. “It puts the onus on the board, and not the voters.”
“The resolution would help sell the bond,” said Board Trustee Rory Smith, who supports closing Woodstock Elementary School. “The school is still going to close. It’s up to us to finally take a stand.”
According to Superintendent Victoria McLaren and Assistant Superintendent Monica LaClair, Proposition 1 would be financed through a 15-year bond with annual debt payments of approximately $2.4 million. Proposition 2 would draw on the district’s reserves and cash on hand, which total more than $15 million.
“Prop 1 keeps Bennett as K-5 and that is really important,” said Board Trustee Clark Goodrich. “I believe this is a reasonable plan.”
Board Vice President Rick Knutsen, who has spoken frequently about fiscal pressures on local governments amid federal budget cuts, also supported the scaled-down proposal.
“I hope the community will hear and see that we are responding,” he said. “We have to keep an eye on what’s going on in the world.”
Other board members voiced their disapproval for the current version of the school closing resolution, including Board Trustee Emily Mitchell-Marell.
“You should trust us,” said Mitchell-Marell. “This is not it, and it will not have the desired effect.”
Board Trustee Caroline Jerome encouraged her fellow board members to put their efforts on getting the proposals passed in December instead of focusing on a resolution “that might put up a barrier.”
Knutsen and Goodrich said the school board must develop a campaign to rally support from voters in December.
“It’s about supporting Onteora students. It’s about the students,” Goodrich said.
Discussions about a resolution will probably continue at upcoming board meetings. Bishop, the board president, said she’ll speak with the board’s attorneys about potentially reworking the resolution as it stands now.
Scott Widmeyer is co-founder of The Overlook. He can be reached at scott@theoverlooknews.com