Southampton school district plans new $7.5M building

The Southampton school district is looking to build a new, $7.5-million administration building using reserve funds set aside for the purpose.

Although the money is already available and doesn’t have to be bonded, residents need to approve the construction by vote.

The vote will be held as part of the budget vote in May, said Randall Dobler, the district’s director of facilities, operations and school safety.

The two-story building with a basement would be 12,109 square feet, Dobler said.

The building would replace a portable structure erected in 1969, when it was planned as temporary.

In May 2009, voters approved a $10-million capital reserve fund with the purpose of building a new administration center, Dobler said. The district now needs permission to use the money to build the structure.

The money left over in the fund will also pay for a $1.1-million renovation of the district’s garage.

Because the money was put into a reserve fund each year, taxes will not be increased next year to pay for the construction, Dobler added.

In 2006, the district’s voters approved another bond, for $64.85 million, for the construction of classrooms and science labs, and improvements in heating and other infrastructure as well as upgrading the district’s athletic fields.