Vote YES on Pearl River School District’s Budget

On Tuesday, May 19th, The Bond and Budget Vote and School Board Election will be held from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

On March 24th, the Pearl River Board of Education approved a $61.4 million bond proposal to present to voters on May 19th. This proposal focuses on making many significant upgrades to the schools in the district, including 

District-wide School Renovations

• New heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, including upgrades to:
• All elementary school multipurpose spaces
• Pearl River Middle School cafeteria and gymnasium
• Pearl River High School auditorium and gymnasium
• Boiler replacement at each school
• New ceilings and LED lighting in selected areas of each school
• Roof removal and replacement at each school

District-wide Safety and Security Upgrades (All Schools)

• Lockdown system integration and installation of notification strobes
• Exterior access control enhancements
• Interior door replacements and hardware upgrades
• Fire alarm system upgrades and expansion of coverage

Improvements to Support Student Wellness and Programming

• Playground resurfacing and equipment upgrades to the Blauvelt Road playground at Evans Park Elementary School and rear playgrounds at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School and Franklin Avenue Elementary School
• Renovation of PRMS library media center, computer room and technology classroom; sink, faucet and casework replacement in science classrooms; athletic field drainage improvements and new irrigation system
• Renovation of PRHS locker and team rooms; gym floors, bleachers, basketball goals and divider walls; turfing of and drainage upgrades to softball, baseball and practice fields; and addition of visitor bleachers on multipurpose field

I implore residents of the Pearl River School District to vote YES on the proposed budget. Often, the biggest push back I hear about increased budgets is from residents complaining that they have no children, or that their children are grown and flown and because of this they believe they should not have to pay more in their taxes for the school district. This line of thinking is, in my opinion, incredibly self-centered and short-sighted.

Should we also never plant trees if we do not personally get to see them grow? A community is only as good as its dedication to its children, as those children are the ones who will, hopefully, become our town supervisors, our police officers, our firefighters, our senators, and our neighbors. Personally, I would like to have a town supervisor or police chief who went to a school with a properly working HVAC. After all, it’s a bit difficult to learn when you’re sweating in 85 degree classrooms.

We all want Rockland to be the best it can be. The May 19th vote is a tangible investment in this belief, and shows that you believe in the future of our county. 

The vote will take place 275 E Central Ave, Pearl River, NY 10965 in the Pirates Cove.