$7.4 Million Greenport School Bond Easily Passes

Even before the 69 absentee ballots were counted, Greenport School District Superintendent Michael Comanda knew the district's capital improvement, and wind and solar projects had both handily passed

"They did it," said Comanda. "This community, when they get behind something, when they really support something, there's no stopping them."

The final tally showed that the $7.4 million capital improvement bond overwhelmingly won by a vote of 371 to 55. The $1.2 million wind and solar project won by an impressive 332 to 90.

William Wisbauer, director of Tetra Tech, the architect and engineering firm working on the project was pleased with the outcome.

"The work really started today," said Wisbauer.

Wisbauer anticipated the work on the roof and windows will begin over next summer, but said the wind and solar project would take a little longer to get going because of the scope of the work. He was hesitant to give any firm details of project completion dates at this point and the projects will need to go out to bid now that the bonds have passed.

The $7.4 capital improvement bond includes putting a new roof on the 1930s building, replacing most of the windows, replacing boilers with fuel -efficient models, restoring the auditorium, replacing the phone and clock system, making the second and third floor bathrooms handicapped accessible, installing new water fountains, and updating the fire alarm system.

Greenport voters also showed support for the wind and solar project. The $1.2 million price tag on green iniatiave includes a 250 kw dual blade wind turbine and a 50kw solar photovoltaic thin film system. The two proposals were separated because the district did not want the wind and solar project to jeopardize the important repairs in the capital improvement bond.