PORT JERVIS, NY — Thomas M. Bongiovi, superintendent of the Port Jervis City School District, attended the Port Jervis Common Council meeting on May 11 with updates about the projects that were approved in a referendum a year ago. The biggest item was the $3.7 million school renovation project.

Bongiovi explained, “The renovations address safety issues and instructional upgrades. In one way or the other, all the four schools in the district are affected by the renovations.

“We’re updating various class rooms at the high school, including the art, band and chorus rooms, and also the family and consumer science room. They’re all approximately 40 years old and in need of updating.”

The project also included playground updates at the two elementary schools, to bring them up to current safety codes. The upgrades include replacing the surface below the playground with rubber tiles, instead of the current gravel.

“One of the elementary school’s ceiling tiles has to be done, the tiles are falling off. The Anna S. Kuhl Elementary School and high school ceilings have already been done,” Bongiovi continued.

The high school was built in the ‘60s and the Hamilton Bicentennial Elementary School in the ‘70s. It still needs to have the roof of one of the gyms repaired before it starts leaking. The other roofs in the high school have already been done.

The refrigeration and freezer equipment is replaced throughout the district, because the appliances dating back 40 years keep breaking down and needing constant repair, Bongiovi said.

The high school track is also being replaced by rubber-based material.

Bongiovi said he thinks the district is in good shape financially. “I’d like to think we’ve kept this low. We have kept the tax increase under 2% for the past several years,” Bongiovi added. The projected levy tax increase is 1.2%.

The current proposed budget is $65.6 million, a $1.8 million increase from last year.

“We need two new special education teachers, one teacher for the elementary school, and an additional computer technician,” Bongiovi said.

Those attending the meeting raised questions, including why the budget is up by $1.8 million.

Part of the answer was that in order to remain compliant with teacher-student ratios, new teachers are hired. Some services are shared with BOCES in order not to duplicate services.

In other business at the meeting, Mayor Kelly Decker introduced a new program that encourages cooperation between the city residents and police.

“Part of the solution is police and city government work together to eliminate crime. We want all of us to work together be active participants in our city. If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity,” Decker said.

Decker also said there was a letter from a group of neighbors regarding landlord issues, offering guidance, help and advice dealing with the problems associated with absent landlords especially. Decker added, “The people who sent the letter gave info, and all signed with addresses.”

“This is one step toward dealing with this type of landlord,” Decker concluded. “There are more neighbors than you think that want to be involved.”