Schools
With East Hampton's Budget Passage, High School Backers Start Work in Earnest
East Hampton has a strong history of voting down the budget on the first try so the margin of approval in the vote, and the vote itself, is a good sign for the high school proposal.
Backers of the high school renovation project are heralding the passage yesterday of the town’s $39.2 million budget, on the first vote, as a good sign for their $51.6 million renovation project.
“We’re definitely buoyed by the budget vote last night,” said Thom Cordeiro, who heads up EHHS Renovate to Educate, a group formed to lobby support for the high school renovation plan.
The budget passed on a vote of 1,031 to 752. East Hampton has a strong history of voting down the budget on the first try so the margin of approval in the vote, and the vote itself, is a good harbinger for the high school proposal, Cordeiro said.
With the budget hurdle behind them high school supporters will begin to focus on getting out the vote on the high school referendum, which is scheduled for June 4.
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Additionally, the group will develop a town-wide mailer describing the project, will attend soccer and Little League games to reach parents of younger children in town and will recruit volunteers to help in its public information campaign.
The high school backers also intend to reach out to the East Hampton Senior Center to talk to older residents in town about the project.
"We know it will be a lot of hard work, and we know this project is a huge expense for the community," Cordeiro said. "But it's so important for the education of our children and for a better facility for our community."
The high school building committee also has planned two informational forums for Friday, May 17, from 1-2:30 p.m. in the East Hampton Public Library Community Room, and Tuesday May 21, from 7:15–8:30 p.m., in the East Hampton High School Auditorium.
The Town Council will hold a town meeting on May 21, at 7 p.m., to set the June 4 referendum.
The building plan calls for demolishing and rebuilding part of the high school to bring its math and technology departments up to current standards. A state grant will pay for about half of the project’s costs.
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