Sag Harbor schools $40M bond proposal approved by voters

Voters in the Sag Harbor school district Thursday green lit a $40 million bond to renovate and expand the Pierson Middle/High School.

The ballot measure won with a tally of 765 to 168, district spokesman Ron Edelson told Newsday.

The funds will give rise to a new marine science lab, new spaces for music and robotics programs as well as new fitness facilities.

"On behalf of the Board of Education, district administration, faculty, and staff, I would like to thank the Sag Harbor community for your support and approval of our Bond Referendum 2026," school Superintendent Jeff Nichols said in a statement texted to Newsday via Edelson.

"The Whaler community has always been supportive of and placed a high value on the education of its children. With this approval, we will be able to move forward with the critical Pierson facility upgrades that will ensure the educational program we provide the students of Sag Harbor today, and for generations to come, is equal to that found in high performing districts throughout Long Island and New York State. "

In a statement ahead of the vote, schools Nichols said the district was at a "critical juncture, not unlike the situation it faced back in the late 1990s," when the middle and high school did not have science labs, a library and other instructional spaces. A bond passed in 2000 allowed the district to expand the Pierson facility as well as pay for programming at the school, he said.

"The physical deficits limited the academic programming offered to students," he said. "With passage of the bond and the expansion of the Pierson facility, the district was able to expand its academic programming."

Nichols said musical groups like the school's band, orchestra and chorus are currently relegated to the auditorium, hallways or oversized closets because of the lack of instructional spaces. He added that the gym is currently 65 years old and is in "disrepair."

"Our robotics program is in the basement in what used to be a storage closet — low ceilings, no windows, exposed piping, poor ventilation, no internet," he said. And, he added, "The absence of a marine science lab limits the number of advanced course offerings that emphasize experiential learning."

An education Facilities Planning Committee, created in 2023, conducted site tours, identified deficiencies and facilitated outreach to the community before presenting the proposed bond referendum, according to documents posted on the district’s website.

Here’s what to know:

How will property taxes be affected?

The average homeowner, with a house assessed at $1 million, will see their taxes increase by about $122.64 annually for the first nine years of the bond. After the district retires old debt in year 10, the average tax increase will drop to $73.80 a year, school officials said.

Over the 30-year life span of the bond the average tax bill for a homeowner with a home valued at $1 million will be about $88.44 a year, according to the district.

What projects are in the proposal?

In addition to space for a new marine science lab and the music and robotics programs, the bond will allocate funding for instructional spaces for the high school’s technology and wood shop programs. It would also pay for a "modern sound booth and recording studio," allowing students to record music and podcasts and stream morning announcements.

Funds from the bond will also go toward a new gym to replace the current facility. A new fitness and weight room, with community access, will also be built.

What’s the timeline for the project?

Construction could begin in July 2027, after the state reviews the projects and bids for the works are awarded, according to the district. Officials expect the projects to be completed by spring 2029.