Pre-K proposal sparks debate at Lewisboro Town Board meeting

SOUTH SALEM, N.Y. - The superintendent of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District (KLSD) outlined a $25 million proposal to create pre-kindergarten classrooms at the former Lewisboro Elementary School at the Lewisboro Town Board’s April 13 meeting. First, however, voters in Katonah-Lewisboro and three districts would need to approve bonding for the measure.

In introducing Dr. Raymond Blanch, KLSD superintendent, Lewisboro Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves noted that the district has scheduled two upcoming “town hall” sessions for residents to learn more about the proposal and to pose questions.

“For folks that are asking about not providing Q&A [here], we don't do that in a town board meeting,” Gonçalves said. “That's not our protocol – that would be a town hall meeting.”

Two upcoming sessions will take place. The first will be at 7 p.m. on May 12 at John Jay High School, while the second will be at the district’s office on May 14 at 9:30 a.m. Blanch is also arranging one or both of those sessions to be made available remotely.

Gonçalves did add that the members of the Town Board itself would pose questions at the Town Board’s meeting, since that fit the meeting’s purpose. Under the proposal, a classroom wing at the former elementary school would be converted into 10 pre-kindergarten classrooms, a measure that aims to comply with a state law that is expected to take effect in 2027. Each classroom would contain a children’s restroom, in compliance with state regulations.

The remodeled complex would also encompass several meeting rooms for seniors and other community groups, a stage, warming kitchen, and a gymnasium. The latter currently houses a host of Parks and Recreation programs and would continue to do so.

Part of the existing building, which dates to 1940, would be demolished under the proposed plan. Blanch noted that the remodeled building would have separate entrances for pre-K students and for community activities. He also said the advent of universal pre-K is inevitable statewide.

“Both legislative offices as well as the governor's office all identified that the universal pre-K program is here,” Blanch noted. “The intent is that it will be mandatory by the 2027-28 school year – and so, they're giving districts a year to work out [details] a bit.”

Blanch also noted that the Katonah-Lewisboro district first launched pre-K on a lottery basis after the Covid pandemic, with 40 children selected initially. “That was kind of our litmus test of how many people are looking for UPK,” he said. “Our class sizes right now in kindergarten are approximately 200 kids in a class. We know there's some families who are not going to need it, nor would they be interested.”

Challenges are ahead with respect to the aging structure of the school, as well as state requirements for pre-K facilities. For instance, each classroom must be a minimum of 900 square feet – more than any of the classrooms at any of the other elementary schools, thus ruling out those other schools for pre-K purposes. In addition, the building’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system is likely to need a complete rebuild.

“So that cost would be significant… it's not like we just move in,” Blanch said. He said the cost of the bond would be approximately $18 per month per household in the Katonah-Lewisboro district. 

Although members of the board did pose questions, they largely did not express opinions on the proposal. The exception was Councilman Rich Sklarin, who expressed strong reservations. “Has it ever been costed out to determine in a comparison [between spending] $25 million for the nine classrooms versus what it would be to use the existing elementary schools?” Sklarin asked.

Blanch said additions to the three district elementary schools would cost approximately $20 million – or roughly $6 million per school. Sklarin responded that the changing demographics of Lewisboro have resulted in a growing share of the population being older, on fixed incomes, and with no children in the households. At the same time, the KLSD’s own budget has faced challenges.

“This year your budget presentation indicated your state aid is considerably down close to $2 million, your health expenses are up $2 million or more, and your net reduction in staffing is about 11 staff,” Sklarin said. “So, you're going through very hard times. [The LES measure] doesn't seem to be the most financially beneficial way to do this.”

In the public comments that preceded Blanch’s presentation, Glen DeFaber of Cross River suggested moving fifth graders from the Katonah-Lewisboro District’s three elementary schools to John Jay Middle School. He pointed out that it has a capacity for 1,294 students but has just 671 currently.

“Pre-K students could be with their siblings who might be in first, second grade or whatever, and we're not renovating an 80-year-old school,” DeFaber said. “We're going to spend $25 million for nine classrooms with a community room when we already have the space. Let's get wise, spend money right and serve the people.”

Vista resident Simone O’Connor said residents should have been able to ask questions – and get answers – on the $25 million project. She also said it was odd in a time of “No Kings” protests.

“Transparency is and always will be important and not allowing us to ask questions after the superintendent speaks is pretty much pointless,” O’Connor said.

South Salem resident Craig Carroll said both the scale and the cost of the project were concerning him. “We are talking about $25 million to renovate approximately nine to 10 classrooms - roughly two-and-one-half million dollars per classroom,” he said. “My understanding is that this is part of proposed legislation, not a finalized mandate. A proposed bill is simply not a mandate, and it should not be treated like one.”

Carroll further noted that neighboring school districts are partnering with local early-education providers for pre-K – and that several of these partnerships in Lewisboro are expected to continue even after the Lewisboro Elementary project is funded and built. “So, what exactly is this $25 million project solving that is not already being addressed right now?” he asked.

Carroll also asked for clarification about how neighboring towns would utilize the new pre-K facility, and what they would be expected to contribute to the cost. “Before moving forward, the community deserves clear answers and a real plan for traffic and safety – because right now those answers are not clear,” he said.

Among other business, the Town Board gave its unanimous approval to a host of resolutions. Among them were the following:

Authorizing the town supervisor to sign an agreement with Westchester County for a $110,288 Community Development Block Grant, enabling the town to purchase a senior van;

Appointing Erik Krutter to the Conservation Advisory Council for a term expiring on December 31, 2027;

Authorizing the supervisor to submit NYSEG order for a previously approved EV charger installation;

Approve a proposal from KSCJ for the next phase of work related to the new police building, at a cost not to exceed $70,000.

Authorizing payment for emergency work at the Wild Oaks Sewer District, totaling approximately $19,000.