Next Step for Tuckahoe School Unclear

Nearly a month after was , officials of the said they have yet to decide what the next step will be for the structure.

In fact, the failed vote was not even discussed at a meeting of the Tuckahoe School Board on Monday until a district resident questioned what the plans are for the house. Under the proposal, the district would have renovated the house as a residence for its superintendent, Chris Dyer, who would have paid rent to the district.

Douglas Unger, a resident and vocal opponent of the proposal, asked during the public comment period of the school board meeting about the district's future plans for the house.

“There's nothing going on with the house,” said School Board Chairman Robert Grisnik. “The public decided not to spend any money.”

Unger pressed the board for further answers, noting that he had seen a work truck parked in front of the house in recent days. Grisnik assured him that there was currently no work going on in the house, though he said the district did have the authority to make certain repairs if needed.

“We don't plan to use it as a residence ... but we will have to take care of that building to keep it in condition and to keep it as an asset and not a detriment to the district,” he said, adding that the money could be taken from the district's undesignated fund.

Another resident, Diane Sadowski, questioned whether any agency oversees this sort of spending by the district.

“Do you just have carte blanche to do what you want?” she asked.

Grisnik responded that district spending is monitored by its accountants and the New York State Department of Education.

The vote on renovating the house, which was included in property purchased by the district in 2009, took place on Dec. 21 and failed 70-249. The district bought the house, located at 46 Sebonac Rd next to the school grounds, for $515,000 after voters signed off on the purchase during a March 2009 referendum.