City BOE Finalizing $48.2 Million Capital Proposal

The White Plains Board of Education is two weeks away from voting on financing for a $48.2 million capital project that, if approved, would go to voters in October.

The board approved the capital plan and public vote at its Aug. 13 meeting, but with only four members present didn't have enough votes to finalize the plan's financing. The board did, however, approve a special city school district election and meeting to take place on Oct. 23.

If approved, the capital spending plan would raise the district's tax levy by .72 percent, which would increase the tax payment for an average White Plains home by $65.12 annually, according to district estimates.

The capital plan is focused on repairs to the Eastview Middle School building, where the district currently plans to spend $22.6 million for a "major renovation".

Improvements are also proposed for district's high school, including $1.95 million for wireless technology and $1.6 million for improvements to the school's auditorium and little theatre. (A school-by-school breakdown of the spending is provided in the chart below.)

Wireless technology for each school will cost a total of about $4.8 million, according to district estimates. If the capital improvement plan is approved, WiFi would be added to each district building. The rest of the spending is focused on maintenance and repairs to aging buildings.

After the board votes on the plan later this month, it would also need approval from the New York State Department of Education before it goes to voters this fall.

A task force approved by the district has been working on a capital plan since reviewing the condition of district buildings in 2010. A detailed plan was completed in June of this year.

Proposed Spending By Building