Mineola voters reject $4.4M school bond

Voters in Mineola rejected a $4.4 million bond Tuesday to alter the configuration of the school district.

The measure proposed building an extension on Jackson Avenue to house grades 3, 4 and 5.

The tally was 1,074 votes opposing the bond and 708 supporting it.

Due to declining enrollment, two elementary schools - Cross Street and Willis Avenue - will close. Cross Street will close in September and Willis will close in September 2012, school officials said.

"While we love our small schools, we have three schools of less than 200 students," said Superintendent Michael Nagler. "If we left all seven buildings open, we would project our levy at seven percent; by closing, we will have a levy of about two-and-a-half percent."

Because the bond failed Tuesday night, the Jackson Avenue extension will house grades three and four and the middle school will serve grades five, six and seven. Grades eight through 12 will be in the high school.

In October, voters rejected a $6.7 million bond that would have resulted in the closure of three elementary schools.