KLSD board again reviews Early Childhood Center

By JEFF MORRIS

Architectural rendering of entrance to proposed Katonah-Lewisboro Early Childhood Center. IMAGES COURTSEY KLSD

The Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education once again revisited the revised proposal for an Early Childhood Center at the former Lewisboro Elementary School during its meeting on Sept. 17. 

The slimmed-down bond proposition is scheduled to go before voters Tuesday, Oct. 20. The proposal calls for bonding for $19.95 million, down from the previous bond proposal of $24.5 million.

This discussion focused on a comparison of what was in the original plan that was defeated by school district voters in May, versus what is in the new plan. Included were suggestions about possible benefits beyond the building’s features, ranging from closer proximity for families through partnerships with local providers; to use of the gym for district athletic activities in addition to use by the community through a partnership with the town; to an opportunity for senior internships with some students who are interested in early childhood education.

According to officials, the center’s central location combined with existing preschools at opposite ends of the district will provide parents with options for keeping their children closer to home. 

Officials also were enthusiastic about the Discovery Garden, a play area that is now included in the plan, touting it as an “amazing” feature, and noting it will be directly accessible from two flexible future classrooms that could be used for special education programs.

The cost of doing nothing

Superintendent of Schools Raymond Blanch and Assistant Superintendent for Business Lisa Herlihy again emphasized the costs involved with either taking the building down or mothballing it — the alternatives to turning it into an early education center. Herlihy noted that under New York State Education Department regulations, they would need to return the site to what was there before, which would cost $3.5 million, while mothballing the building would cost $7.5 million. She said it could be used for storage, but unless they replace the roofs and other elements, it would deteriorate.

Plans show the original layout of Lewisboro Elementary School, above, and the proposals for areas to be removed and reconfigured for an Early Childhood Center, below.

Board members expressed appreciation for district messaging that now promotes the proposal as one plan that solves two needs: the state mandate to provide universal pre-K by 2028, and the question of what to do with the existing Lewisboro Elementary School building. They also lauded the focus on local partnerships.

Administrators continued to make the point that the district is fortunate to have a facility that can be utilized to meet the pre-K requirements, stressing that most other districts do not have that option and will need to engage in costly construction projects in order to comply with the state directive.

They also reiterated that because of standards that have to be met for pre-K classrooms, the rooms must be of a sufficient size and have bathrooms, both of which are already available at the old school. Attempting to reconfigure other district schools to include those features, as some have suggested, would entail extensive — and expensive — construction projects, which would also be disruptive, officials said.

Q&A is live

Blanch directed residents to the Q&A section of the LES page on the district website for answers to many questions, and invited submission of more queries, which he said will typically be answered within 24 to 48 hours.

There are numerous questions on the Q&A page that repeat related concerns, asking for specifics about various claims made by the district. 

One recent example asked for examples of other districts that are launching construction projects, saying neighboring districts did not seem to be going out to bond. The district’s response cites four districts, all of which are on Long Island. It also notes that KLSD explored whether local preschools could accommodate approximately 200 eligible 4-year-olds. 

Of the four preschools that responded, “one could not operate at the state-funded rate, and the other three do not have enough space at their current locations to serve all eligible students,” said the response. 

The answers also repeat the argument that demolition alone “is now expected to approach or exceed $4 million” and says “KLSD does not have funding in its current budget for a project of that magnitude, so demolition would also require voter approval through a bond.”

Another response states that if the Early Childhood Center is not approved, the district would need to develop another plan to meet the state’s pre-K requirement, “which could include securing additional seats outside the KLSD community.”

Repeated requests for more detail on various issues did not always result in the desired level of specificity. In response to a question about the impact of student drop-off and pickup on Bouton Road traffic, the district could only say it understands the concerns, and, “We will work with the providers and neighbors to ensure a solution that prioritizes student safety while minimizing traffic impacts on Bouton Road and the surrounding neighborhood.” 

The district also says based on past history, a separate traffic study was not deemed necessary.

One questioner felt the district’s messaging regarding participation by local providers was unclear, and wanted to know whether formal proposals for local provider partners would be accepted and approved prior to the Oct. 20 vote. “No provider can be formally selected or guaranteed a partnership until the required RFP process is completed,” was the response. “While the district has done significant, concrete planning with interested local providers, final agreements will not be in place before the vote.”

There were no questions or concerns raised during the public comment portion of the Sept. 17 board meeting.