With the Board of Finance's recent approval of the proposed $52 million high school renovation plan, and the Town Council's subsequent vote to send it to voters on June 4, the political action committee that formed to back the proposal is turning its focus toward the referendum.
One of the first issues the group will need to tackle, according to one local official, is getting the town's budget approved when that spending plan goes to voters on May 7.
Backers of the high school project have expressed concerns that if the budget fails and is rescheduled to around the same time as the high school referendum, it could make passage of the high school project difficult.
"One way to create positive momentum for the high school project will be for the community to pass the Town Budget on the 1st referendum," Mary Ann Dostaler, a finance board member who has backed the high school project, wrote on the Facebook page of the PAC, East Hampton Renovate to Educate. The group formed several months ago to lobby in favor of the high school project.
"It will be important to have a strong voter turnout," for the budget referendum, Dostaler wrote. "Mark your calendars and spread the word to vote on Tuesday May 7th."
Other community members have started coming forward to offer their help in getting out the vote for the high school project by doing things like lobbying local Little League parents.
"The focus is to get the word out to those with small children and make sure that this group comes out to vote at referendum," another supporter posted on the East Hampton Educate to Renovate page.
With the high school rebuilding project expected to take several years, leaders of the lobbying group and other town officials have said it is imperative to inform voters with younger children about the project because those children will benefit from renovating the high school.
After initially getting rejected by the finance board earlier in April, the board agreed to support the project with some modifications to it. The plan was then quickly approved by the Town Council, which set the June 4 referendum date. The referendum will be from 6 a.m to 8 p.m. at the high school.
About half the costs of the high school plan, which addresses concerns about deficiencies at the school that could affect its accreditation, would be paid for with a 52 percent matching grant from the state.
The school building committee is racing a June 30 deadline to get the grant application into the state to get funding for this year.
Under the "renovate as new" proposal the school would essentially be gutted and rebuilt. Even the grounds would get an overhaul with a new parking and driveway design.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
