Second Bite at the Apple: Rye School Board Reschedules Bond Vote

The proposed bond resolution for more than $22 million in capital improvements to Rye High School is on the agenda for Tuesday's regular school board meeting. If passed by the board, the issue will be put to public referendum on Thursday, December 15.

when board president Laura Slack announced that the receipt of a letter from the City of Rye just three days prior to the meeting made it impossible to move ahead with a planned vote on the resolution. Slack and the board determined the letter raised environmental concerns to which they were obligated to respond before setting a public referendum date.

The SEQR process requires a full declaration of the environmental impact of any planned development planned by a state agency or unit of local government. The process cannot be completed until any known effects are addressed and mitigated in the plan for the project.

In the letter received prior to the last regular meeting, city manager Scott Pickup indicated there were concerns related to the proposed high school expansion about traffic and pedestrian safety as well as flooding and drainage.

Superintendent Dr. Edward Shine said that after a meeting on October 18 between school and city officials, city manager Scott Pickup sent another letter affirming the mandated SEQR process should go forward and that the traffic and pedestrian safety concerns raised in the prior letter would be resolved. 

The capital improvement project would add classroom space, updated science facilities and a fieldhouse to Rye High School.