Longwood schools propose $193M in infrastructure upgrades
Longwood, Long Island’s fifth-largest school district with seven schools and about 9,000 students, hasn’t undergone a major upgrade since the early 2000s, said Superintendent Lance Lohman. Credit: Tom Lambui
Longwood school district voters will be asked later this month to consider funding $193 million in major infrastructure projects — a cost anticipated to be three-quarters covered by state aid — in addition to the district’s $300 million budget.
On the ballot for the May 21 school district budget vote will be two propositions, one authorizing a $158 million districtwide infrastructure upgrade project and a second authorizing a $35 million project for HVAC upgrades that would put air conditioning in every district classroom. If they both pass, the average taxpayer would be responsible for $31 million combined and pay about $19 more per month for 15 years.
The passage of the HVAC project is contingent on the approval of the larger infrastructure project.
Longwood, Long Island’s fifth-largest school district with seven schools and about 9,000 students, hasn’t undergone a major upgrade since the early 2000s, said Superintendent Lance Lohman.
“When you walk into a learning environment and it is a clean, updated, modern space … students are going to be much more productive,” he said. “It's really making sure that students’ basic needs are met before we're able to educate them.”
The $158 million project, listed as Bond Proposition I on the ballot, calls for using $17.2 million in reserves, and borrowing to cover the rest. District officials say 75% of the total cost would be reimbursed by the state. That means taxpayers would be responsible for $22.5 million of the project, an amount that would cost the average property owner who pays $7,225 in annual school taxes $14.97 per month over 15 years, Lohman said.
The project would fund replacing all roofs, ceilings and floors, repaving parking lots, upgrading bathrooms and more, according to Lohman. It would modernize spaces like the high school library and a middle school music suite. It would also fund space for career readiness programs in cosmetology, culinary arts, tech and more at the high school.
The $35 million project, listed as Bond Proposition II on the ballot, would fund HVAC improvements including installing air conditioning. It is expected to receive $26.2 million in state funding, leaving taxpayers responsible for about $8.8 million. That would cost the average taxpayer $4.13 per month over 15 years, Lohman said.
Lohman said the district wanted to give voters the option to decide if air conditioning is necessary.
“We didn’t want to make that assumption with taxpayer money,” he said.
Long Island schools opened the 2023-24 school year in the middle of a heat wave, with early September temperatures in the 90s.
Gail Lynch-Bailey, president of the Middle Island Civic Association, said she expects the community will support the measures, especially since they are mostly funded through state aid.
“When you think of 75 cents back for every dollar, that's a great opportunity that we're wise to take advantage of,” she said.
Voting May 21 will be from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the district’s four elementary schools. Voting location is determined by one’s ZIP code.
Vera Chinese covers Suffolk County government and politics. She joined Newsday in 2017 after working as an editor for the East End lifestyle publication northforker and a general assignment reporter for the New York Daily News.
