On Thursday, Jan. 5, the West Islip School District presented their proposed capital reserve projects to the community at the board of education meeting.

Before the presentation began, West Islip superintendent Dr. Paul Romanelli was highlighted for being one of just 35 educators around the country to join the Global Leadership Summit in Berlin. The summit is covered by a full scholarship and is a weeklong experience in July.

The board noted that information from the Jan. 5 presentation would also be sent to residents in a postcard the following week.

The district’s presentation was given by assistant superintendent for business Elisa Pellati. Pellati noted that capital reserves allow the district to save money for any future capital projects without having to fund these projects through the annual budget or a bond, both of which would impact taxpayers. The use of the capital reserves comes at no additional cost to taxpayers.

“Capital reserves are funded through surplus money reserved at year end or from transfers of monies that are considered excess in other reserve funds,” Pellati said.

The capital reserves in West Islip were established and voter approved in May of 2019. The district has been able to transfer funds into this reserve for the years ending June 30, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. In May of 2021-2022, the community voted to spend funds from the reserve to complete 13 different projects. The capital reserve fund II was voter approved by the community in May of 2022. The district was able to transfer money from the reserve for the year ending June 30, 2022 and was able to transfer money from three other reserves that were deemed in excess. Those other reserves were the Workers Compensation Reserve, the Unemployment Reserve, and the Employee Retirement System Reserve. The total of the two capital reserves as of June 30, 2022 is $8,750,686.

The proposition on the January ballot is to use funds from both reserves to complete the following projects during the 2023-24 school year, which begins July 1: install air conditioning mini-split units at the high school and middle school; install air conditioning window units and a few mini-split units at the elementary schools; replace building fire alarms at the middle school and elementary schools (this project was approved this past May for the high school); and upgrade building management control systems in each building districtwide.

According to Pellati, all of the projects are estimated to cost $8.4 million.

“It is important to note that upon completion of these projects, if there are any unspent funds, they are simply returned back to the capital reserve fund from which they came,” Pellati said.

The capital reserve vote will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at West Islip High School in the gymnasium from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pellati noted that there will be dedicated parking spots available for those voting.