2024 Bond Referendum

A bond referendum is an opportunity for voters to decide whether the school district may borrow money for capital projects. The bond referendum, if approved, would address the District’s facility needs in all nine CCSD elementary schools and the Birchwood School, specifically related to key infrastructure improvements.

A voter-approved bond referendum would permit CCSD to spend up to $110 million for the defined project scope. CCSD will utilize a combination of bonding and New York State Building Aid to fund the proposed work. CCSD's overall fiscal health, along with State Aid, enables the District to propose a capital improvements bond project which is tax neutral – meaning there will be no increase to current taxes.

The proposed scope will focus on upgrading HVAC (cooling and ventilation) and flooring, and replacing windows and casements in the following spaces at the nine elementary schools and Birchwood School: all academic and office areas, cafeterias and gymnasiums. The proposed scope also includes electrical and infrastructure enhancements required to support new systems.

The most-recent Building Condition Survey identified $240 million in key capital work across the District. To structure finances that maximize work without increasing current taxes, the work was divided into two, five-year phases. 

The first phase – and current bond referendum – will address all nine elementary schools and the Birchwood School. The second phase, which will target improvements at the District’s middle and high schools, will require a separate vote in the future.

Feedback gathered from the District’s Fall 2023 ThoughtExchange indicated that our community is passionate about the safety, health and well-being of our students and staff. The proposed scope of work would begin to address priority items in the District’s long-range facility plan which are important to community members.

In order to maximize New York State Building Aid, the proposed work for the first phase will be scheduled as a series of two-year stages within the five-year period. A second phase of the project, which will require a separate vote in the future, is expected to include improvements to Felix Festa Middle School, Clarkstown High School North and Clarkstown High School South.

On average, our buildings are 61-and-a-half years old with systems that are no longer cost-efficient to operate. Furthermore, old or malfunctioning HVAC systems can lead to poor air quality in schools. Inefficient HVAC systems make it difficult to maintain comfortable temperatures throughout the school year, which can be distracting for students and staff especially in extreme temperatures. Upgrading the HVAC systems would create healthier learning environments for students and staff to learn, teach and grow in.

If voters approve the bond referendum, construction is anticipated to begin in Summer 2026 and be completed in Summer 2031.

It is expected that construction will be scheduled as a series of two-year stages within the five-year period. Electrical and infrastructure upgrades will likely be scheduled for the first year of each stage, followed by HVAC, flooring and window renovations the following year.

The staging schedule for individual schools will be determined after the public vote.

Construction will not impact buildings during the school year. However, there may be limited disruption to summer programming. Construction will be planned around the academic needs of our students.

The District will re-evaluate its plan to determine an immediate course of action to improve our aging systems.

Voters will be asked to cast a “yes” or “no” vote on the following:

(a) That the Board of Education of the Clarkstown Central School District, in the County of Rockland, New York (the “District”), is hereby authorized to construct HVAC, electrical, window and flooring upgrades and improvements at various District school buildings, and to expend therefor an amount not to exceed $110,000,000;
(b) that a tax is hereby voted in the amount of not to exceed the estimated cost of $110,000,000 to finance such cost, such tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts the Board of Education shall determine; and
(c) that in anticipation of said tax, bonds of the District are hereby authorized to be issued in the amount of not to exceed $110,000,000, and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable.

During its regular August 8 meeting, the Board of Education adopted a resolution to present a $110 million bond proposal to the greater Clarkstown community for a vote on October 8, 2024. Check back here regularly for updates starting in September.

Bond Proposition
Special District Meeting, October 8, 2024

Polling Locations (7am-9pm):

District 1: Street School
31 Zukor Road, New City

District 2: Congers Community Center
8 Gilchrest Road, Congers

District 3: Chestnut Grove
District Offices
62 Old Middletown Road, New City

District 4: Clarkstown Reformed Church
107 Strawtown Road, West Nyack
(note location change)

To find out if you are registered to vote in the school district in which you live, please visit the Voter Information Portal.

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Polling Locations
(Library elections only; 9am-9pm):

Districts 1-3: New City Library

District 4: West Nyack Library

Sample Ballot

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Voter Registration:

Voters* may register online with the Department of Motor Vehicles or by mail through the:

Rockland County Board of Elections
11 New Hempstead Road
New City, NY 10956
(845) 638-5172

Office of the District Clerk
(located in the Chestnut Grove
Administrative Center)
62 Old Middletown Road
New City, NY 10956
(845) 639-6455
M-F; 8:30am-4pm

*Military voters only: for registration and the ballot application, contact the District Clerk's Office at (845) 639-6455.

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Early Mail Voter Information:

The first day to apply for an early mail ballot for the Budget Vote and Election is September 8, 2024.

Early mail voter ballots must be returned to the District Clerk's Office by Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 5pm. Registered voters may request an application for an early mail ballot by downloading it below or contacting the District Clerk at (845) 639-6455. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election (if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter) or the day before the election (if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or the voter’s designated agent).

NYS School District Early Mail Ballot Application

NYS School District Early Mail Ballot Application (Spanish)

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Absentee Ballots:

The first day to apply for an absentee ballot for the Budget Vote and Election is September 8, 2024.

Absentee ballots must be returned to the District Clerk's Office by Tuesday, October 8, 2024 at 5pm. Registered voters may request an application for an absentee ballot by downloading it below or calling (845) 639-6455. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the election (if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter) or the day before the election (if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or the voter’s designated agent).

Absentee Ballot Application

Absentee Ballot Application (Spanish)

Sample Ballot

Sample Library Ballot (pending)