The Sag Harbor School District announced plans on March 15 to attempt an outright purchase of the properties on Marsden Street that had up until that point been on the table for a joint purchase with Southampton Town.
The purchase price — $9.325 million for a total of five properties — is the same as the price negotiated along with the town, but the key difference is that the school district would seek voter approval to make up the $6 million that the town had offered from its community preservation fund. The rest of the money had already been approved by voters in November, coming out of a reserve account. The matter has been embroiled in controversy for several months.
“The Marsden Street properties present an opportunity for the school to acquire a large piece of property adjacent to Pierson Middle/High School that will address facility needs now and in the future,” Jeff Nichols, the district superintendent, wrote in a March 15 email to the community.
The fact that the Southampton Town Board did not vote last week to approve the C.P.F. purchase “has presented the school district with a choice of purchasing the property on its own or letting the seller place it back on the market. After careful consideration, the Board of Education has decided to proceed with scheduling a vote to independently purchase the five properties.”
Mr. Nichols said in the brief message that the district’s intent is to put the bond on the May 16 budget ballot along with the district’s operating budget and school board candidates. He also noted that without a contribution from the preservation fund, a Marsden Street facility would not be subject to the same restrictions that the town had set forth.
On Monday, during a regular school board meeting, his only comment was that the potential bond referendum would be “simply for the acquisition,” with “no related plans. At this point, we’re just consulting with our attorneys with regard to next steps to comply with what we need to do if we end up having the vote on May 16.”
Pat Trunzo, who owns the lots under the business name Marsden Street Properties L.L.C., said in a message Tuesday that the company “is willing to sell the lots to the school alone, contingent on voter approval of the bond referendum being put up with the annual budget. In the alternative, I am preparing to resubmit my applications,” which had been previously withdrawn, to the village’s board of historic preservation and architectural review for three houses.
Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman could not be reached for comment this week, but in an interview last week he said that “we’re only involved in Marsden because of the school. The idea that the town should just buy it and make a passive park — that is something that we are not interested in. . . . I think some of the opposition are hoping we step in, buy it, and keep it as a wooded lot. That is not on the table.”
Tackling Cellphone Use
Mr. Nichols announced during the school board meeting on Monday that the district is reopening the discussion it had before the pandemic about cellphone use at Pierson Middle and High School.
New this time around is a potential partnership with Yondr, a tech company that offers tools to restrict cellphone activity during the school day through the use of pouches that students would be required to use to stow away their phones. The pouches can only be opened using a special tool that would remain in the possession of administrators and, on rare occasions, teachers.
“Over the last three or four years . . . it appears as though cellphones and related technologies have become an issue in our schools to the extent that they are interfering with students’ focus in the classroom,” Mr. Nichols said.
Yondr started out making phone pouches for use at concert venues and comedy clubs, but began expanding to schools about five years ago. The company says the technology is now in more than 1,000 schools, including 238 schools in New York City.
Sag Harbor is in the early phases of discussing this, but the idea was favorably received by some on the school board. “I would support it,” said Brian DeSesa, the school board vice president. A board colleague, Ryan Winter, said that “it seems like a good tool.”
Tax Levy Increase Updated
To support its proposed 2023-24 budget of $48.18 million, the school district is proposing a 1.88-percent tax levy increase, which is the lowest increase by far among the East End schools, according to the district.
Jennifer Buscemi, the district’s business administrator, said the tax increase for a homeowner with a house valued at $1 million would be about $67 for the year.
The district is also proposing for the first time a separate tax levy that would support the Sag Harbor Historical Museum. The amount is $75,000, which would break down to an additional tax of $6.48 per year for homeowners with a million-dollar property.
The district’s next budget workshop is planned for April 3, with formal adoption of the budget planned for April 19 and a full hearing on May 8.