POUGHKEEPSIE – Voters went to the polls in Poughkeepsie on Tuesday and have unofficially approved a $99 million capital bond project to improve all aspects of learning in the district.
Superintendent Dr. Eric Rosser said that the school board meets (tonight) on Wednesday night to accept the results, making it official. The link to watch the virtual meeting can be found here.
In a brief Wednesday morning interview, Rosser said, “Both propositions have passed. The voters have supported our initiative to move our schools into the 21st century. I am very pleased with the outcome of the vote.” Rosser noted that voter approval “Allows us to transform the schools into a fulfilling experience for our students.”
Longtime district educator David Laffin said the vote plans for the future. “I think the improvement plan is necessary and gives our district a ray of hope. It is much needed and the way it’s spaced out over time is reasonable.” The educator also praised the voters that came out as well as the people involved in the project. “I think it shows what a great community we have that people came out to support our school district and obviously their own children, which at the end of the day is the most important aspect of this whole project. This is not a vanity project. This is a survival project. I commend Dr. Rosser, The Board of Education, the administrative team, and the entire staff but most importantly I truly am grateful to the taxpayers of the City of Poughkeepsie School District who answered the call because the need is there.”
Superintendent Rosser noted that the projects will also provide construction jobs during the reconstruction of the district, stimulating the local economy.
The plan includes renovations to several of the district’s facilities and also provides modernized instructional programming for the students. The Mid Hudson News article providing an overview of the plan can be found here.
