West Islip school district voters approve $50 million referendum

By a more than 2-to-1 margin, voters in West Islip on Tuesday night approved a bond referendum that will pump nearly $50 million into infrastructure, safety and computer technology upgrades, school officials said.

As many as 876 residents voted yes and 361 rejected the proposal, which administrators said would reap $50 million of work at a cost of $15 million to local taxpayers. The projects that the bond will help fund run the gamut from roofs and windows to SmartBoards and security cameras. Projects will affect the high, middle and elementary schools.

Athletic facilities, a pool and fitness room also will be affected.

Officials said that because the district receives a generous amount of state aid for building projects, the investment of $15 million of local taxpayer dollars will be supplemented by $35 million in building aid from the state.