Board approves $11.8 million safety and security bond for May ballot

After months of committee review and debate over size and scope, the Carmel Central School District Board of Education voted to place a narrowed safety‑and‑security capital project on the May ballot.

Trustees and administrators described the revised proposal as focused narrowly on safety and security items, with unrelated work removed from the package. The package presented to the board totaled $11,800,280 and includes district‑wide security cameras, interior and exterior door locks, intruder‑resistant film on ground‑level windows and doors, a VoIP lockdown system, a visitor‑management system and the purchase and installation of AEDs. Law‑enforcement partners and the district’s vendor (Alteris) reviewed and supported the proposal, trustees said.

Proponents argued the bond could be structured to replace less expiring debt and would therefore have a limited tax‑impact advantage compared to earlier larger proposals. Several trustees urged caution about borrowing only for projects that demonstrably advance student safety and not to use the bond as a vehicle for unrelated spending. The resolution to send the bond to the ballot passed on a roll call vote.

Next step: The bond will appear on the district’s May ballot; voters will decide whether to authorize borrowing for the project as described. If approved, work would proceed with state review and aid processes where applicable.