The Sag Harbor School District on Monday publicized more details of its pending agreement with the Mashashimuet Park board of directors, which will play into the $13.5 million bond referendum that is up for a vote on Sept. 29.
The term is to be 17 years, according to a copy of the resolution contained within this week’s school board meeting agenda. The district would pay an “initial annual rent” of $350,000, which would be “subject to annual increases not to exceed the regional consumer price index.” That amount — which is an increase from this year’s rent of approximately $221,000 — would be built into the school’s regular operations budget for next year.
Jeff Nichols, Sag Harbor’s superintendent, said yesterday that the long-term lease is tied to the approval of the bond itself, which is to cover substantial renovations and upgrades to the Mashashimuet Park fields and other facilities. Both must be approved together for the project to proceed. If it’s a yes, the lease would take effect in July 2023.
“Hopefully the community supports this, and the fields enable our students to play at facilities that are appropriate and safe,” Mr. Nichols said
Sandi Kruel, the school board president, said during Monday’s meeting that a town hall-style meeting will be announced sometime in the next few weeks for residents to learn more and ask questions of both the school district and park board members.
Also Monday, the school district hired Brian Tardif as its new athletic director. He will also oversee health and wellness programs and teach physical education part time.
Mr. Tardif’s “school district leader” certification is pending. His starting salary is $150,000 plus benefits for the probationary four-year term to which he was appointed, which began on Tuesday. He is among the district’s 13 recently hired employees; a handful of open positions remain, including special education teachers, a Spanish teacher, a middle school PLANT (Preparing Learners for a New Tomorrow) teacher, and three teaching assistants.