Monday, October 20, 2008

Board of Education approves $26.76 million project;
1.9 percent tax increase to be phased over two years

The Board of Education, after months of study, tonight approved a building renovation project that totals $26.76 million. The project will be considered by the community in mid-December.

Here are highlights of the project as approved by a 5-1 vote of the board tonight:

High School

• renovate and expand the current library and renovate art classrooms at the high school;
• upgrades to the 50-year-old technology education classrooms at the high school;
• Several building maintenance projects as identified on the 2005 state-mandated building conditions survey.

Middle School

• expand the current three science labs and planetarium into four science lab classrooms;
• enclose and expand the now "open" library;
• rehabilitate the 30-year-old family and consumer science and technology education classrooms at the middle school;
• Several building maintenance projects as identified on the 2005 state-mandated building conditions survey.

Elementary

• install new roofs on the elementary schools (except Glendaal, which was done last summer);
• installation of solar energy panels on Sacandaga Elementary School;
• Several building maintenance projects as identified on the 2005 state-mandated building conditions survey.

Districtwide

• replace the 10-year-old computer/telephone servers and network.

Physical Education/Athletics

• installation of an all-sport synthetic turf field, 8-lane "broken back" running track as well as bleachers to seat 500. Because of the width of the track, the project includes funding to relocate the Sacandaga Elementary School playground.

This option would increase taxes by an estimated 1.9 percent, phased in during the 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years.

On a Glenville assessment of $160,000, the average in the school district, taxes would increase by a maximum of $59.20 per year or $4.93 per month based on the current tax rate.