Sag Harbor Voters Approve Stella Maris Purchase

Voters in Sag Harbor on Tuesday gave the go-ahead for the Sag Harbor School District to purchase and renovate the former Stella Maris school building, approving a $10.23 million bond referendum, 736 to 595, to buy the property, update the building, and outfit it for its intended use as a center for early childhood education and special education services.

Katy Graves, the superintendent, thanked the community for its support.

"Our board of education did something very brave by bringing the Stella Maris proposition to the community, and I think the community had the opportunity and took it to come to the polls in significant numbers tonight to be heard," Ms. Graves said. "We saw that they do want this project and we're going to see what opportunities can come now and change the landscape for the Sag Harbor community and the Sag Harbor School District."

Also approved was the district's $38.77 million budget, which received 75.2 percent voter approval in a 997-to-328 vote. The community also elected Susan Lamontagne, a newcomer, and re-elected Chris Tice, the current school board vice president, to fill two seats on the board of education. Ms. Lamontagne received 645 votes, just four more than Susan Kinsella, the other incumbent candidate and current school board president, and Ms. Tice received 738 votes. Roxanne Briggs, the fourth candidate, received 478 votes. Voter turnout was up about 37 percent over last year's total of 966 voters.