School district voters OK new auditorium

School district voters on Tuesday approved a $10 million proposition to construct a 700seat auditorium at Red Hook High School.

The vote in favor of the spending was 1,637-615, according to the district.

The school currently uses a gym that has a stage for performances, but district officials say the room has poor acoustics and is difficult to arrange when significant gatherings are scheduled.

“Many opportunities are lost because you don’t have a large gathering spot for your school community where you could take advantage of guest lecturers that might come up,” district Superintendent Paul Finch said last month.

Funding for the auditorium is expected to include a $3.5 million from a state Dormitory Authority grant.

School district officials estimate that 64.4 percent of “eligible” expenses for the project will be reimbursed by state aid, but they have not provided an estimate of how much of the construction would qualify for aid.

The district has estimated the project will have a 1 percent annual impact on the property tax levy during a 20-year bonding period, with expected debt retirement in 2019 keeping the auditorium project from increasing tax rates.

District officials hope to have the new auditorium ready for use in the 2020-21 school year.