Rye Voters Turn Down School Improvements

RYE, NY — Voters in the Rye school district nixed a capital bond resolution Tuesday. According to results that will be sent to the state for certification, there were 1,478 votes against the resolution and 1,468 in favor the resolution.

In spite of the loss, Superintendent Eric Byrne thanked the members of the community who took the time to learn what was at stake and come out to vote.

"The infrastructure needs of the school district's buildings remain, and the administration and board of education will have to consider how to address the needed work to remedy them," he said.

The $79.99 million capital bond referendum was asking for the approval of a 30-year bond that would have funded investment in the district's five buildings, "renovating outdated spaces into well-ventilated, secure educational spaces designed to support current best instructional practices while preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving economy," according to information on the district's website.

The proposal included replacing portable trailer classrooms with permanent instructional spaces. Fixed-seating auditoriums would have been refurbished into flexible, variable-use learning and activity spaces.

The high school's turf field and running track would have been replaced and a tarp system was going to be installed to protect the field from periodic flooding.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was modified from its original version to include an updated vote count provided by the Rye school district. The updated count does not change the outcome of the vote.

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