Proposition 3 is the right choice for KLSD, and here are three reasons why:
First, we are failing to meet the demand for public Pre-K in our community. Last year, with 44 Pre-K seats and 120 applications, the district had to turn away about three out of every four families that needed this program. After years of uneven access to Universal Pre-K (UPK) across New York, the state is seeking to make the program truly universal by nearly doubling its per-student funding from $5,400 to $10,000. To access these funds, the district needs space. The state is also mandating UPK by fall of 2028; this is in the budget bill and not a point of contention in negotiations.
Second, Prop 3 is cost-effective and delivers the most value. It renovates an asset the district already owns. For an average of $9 a month on a $500k home to $18 a month on a $1 million home, we can build a UPK center and community center that serves everyone — seniors, Scouts, campers, civic groups — through dedicated, year-round recreational space. The state also reimburses 25% of approved construction costs through building aid. This project will make our already strong school district even more attractive, ballast to our property values.
Third, Prop 3 was developed after years of community engagement in a committee that included district staff, Board of Education trustees, and local residents with expertise in areas such as engineering and real estate. This plan was studied, costed out, architecturally reviewed, and will put a depreciating asset to productive use.
Now let's talk about what happens if Prop 3 fails.
We don't save $24.5 million. We would spend $7.5 million just to keep the building from falling apart. And to be clear, the district hasn't neglected this building. Every homeowner knows that roofs and other major systems have a lifespan. That's the natural lifecycle of a building.
So that's $7.5 million for nothing. No Pre-K. No community space. No state reimbursements. Just an empty building that no one can use. Tearing it down costs $3.5 million, and we lose a district-owned asset forever. Either way, we are spending millions. The question is whether we get anything in return.
I want every taxpayer to understand: our income tax dollars will fund Universal Pre-K in the State of New York. The question is whether those dollars come back to our community, or whether we forfeit them to other districts better prepared to claim them.
The alternatives circulated don’t work. Adding pre-k to existing schools means displacing students and building compliant classrooms, and there is no space to build at Katonah Elementary. The requirements and costs for residential construction are simply not comparable to those for building or renovating a school. Proposing that the district contract more outside providers ignores the fact that we only have 44 seats now precisely because of space limitations: local providers weren’t applying to participate. And yes, they can bid to offer their services at the renovated building.
It is worth noting that pre-k providers did not go out of business when UPK was mandated in New York City. They either participated in the program or adapted their business by focusing on serving younger children or offering special programs that some parents can afford and are willing to pay for.
A fiscally responsible voter sees a building we already own, a mandate coming, per-student funding nearly doubling, building aid reimbursement, and dozens of families being turned away every year. A fiscally responsible voter wants their tax dollars working here, in our community.
I've made this entire case without even mentioning the value of high-quality pre-k for children’s long-term development. That reason alone would justify a yes vote.
Vote YES on Prop 3.
This column was submitted in Barbara Williams' personal capacity and does not represent the official views of the KLSD’s Board of Education.
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