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This is the second of a three part series on the bond under consideration by the Eastchester Board of Education. The first story examined senior citizens' thoughts on the proposed bond. Part 3 will appear on Wednesday, August 24.
EASTCHESTER, N.Y. Eastchester resident Jean DeCairano's five and a half year old son Steven is ready to start kindergarten next week.
He has new school clothes and a backpack all ready for his first day.
"This is all new to me," said DeCairano. "He's my only child and this is my first experience as a parent of a school kid."
DeCairano has heard that the Eastchester Board of Education is considering seeking voter approval for a bond that will pay for expanding the middle and high schools.
"This is an expensive place to live," DeCairano said. "I mean you get a lot but it costs a lot. I don't think I am going to vote to spend more money at this time."
Much like the senior citizens spending the morning at the Lake Isle club on Friday morning at a meeting and lunch, the moms out by the pool with their kids are worried about their ability to afford supporting a bond.
Both seniors and the moms out by the pool were responding to the possibilty that the Eastchester Board of Education will hold a special vote this fall seeking voter approval for either a $12.7 million or a $26 million bond.
The $12.7 million proposal will add about a dozen new classrooms to the middle school and five new science labs.
If the board asks for approval on the $26 million project, the high school will also receive 10 new classroom and four new science labs.
The proposed expansion will also replace the two story cafeteria with a four-story addition. The old gym would no longer be used for classroom space and would be restored to a gym. Several existing science labs would also be updated.
District officials have said they are completely out of room, and if there is no addition of space, it may have to resort to staggered school openings or morning and afternoon shifts of attendance.
Dana Deasy has three young boys, Ryan, 6, Jason, 5, and Eric, 3.
"I cannot say that I will vote in favor of a bond, even though I am sure the schools need more room," Deasy said. "I am opposed to anything that will raise taxes right now."
On Tuesday, August 23, the board is expected to decide whether it will support a bond, and if it will be to expand just the middle school now, and go back to voters in a year or two to expand the high school, or if it will ask voters to support a bond that will expand both schools.
"I might consider voting the smaller bond," said DeCairano." "It will wind up being the same amount of money in the end, but it's just a little less painful that way."
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