December
16 Vote
District seeking approval for more no-cost building improvements,
establishment of capital reserve fund
POSTED: Oct. 17, 2008
The Port Jervis School District
Board of Education adopted resolutions Oct. 16 to seek voter
approval on a proposed $5.55 million building renovation
project and a proposition to
establish a new 10-year capital reserve fund to offset
the costs of a future school building.
Both propositions will be put before voters Tuesday, Dec. 16.
Neither of the propositions will increase local school taxes.
If approved, the renovation project would allow the district to
continue its ongoing effort to make needed school building
improvements. Guided by input received by the Master Planning
Committee – made-up of administrators, staff, parents, and
community volunteers – the referendum would address the
following building concerns:
-
School
safety/building security:
Upgrade emergency exit lighting, replace building
ventilators, and improve school security by adding secure
vestibule entrances;
-
Building integrity:
Replace leaky classroom windows with ones that meet current
safety and energy efficiency standards.
The building
project would be funded primarily by state EXCEL (Expanding our
Children’s Education and Learning) Aid,
the state aid program designed to assist school districts in
improving their buildings and facilities.
This is the same type of state aid Port Jervis is currently
using to fund the nearly-completed Capital Construction Project.
Approved by voters in December 2006, the two-year project has
brought about numerous positive changes in the district to
include the replacement of deteriorating roofs; installation of
new flooring; security system and heating system upgrades; and
the restoration of the High School entrance, auditorium, and
cafeteria.
EXCEL Aid will cover the cost of the needed building
renovations and security upgrades.
State officials have already indicated that EXCEL Aid will not
be affected by the recently-proposed state budget cuts. But,
given the projections for future aid, it is unlikely the state
will offer this type of aid to school districts again in the
near feature.
The current building needs – and the need to start
setting aside funds for a new school – were identified
as
part of the long-term facilities plan that is being developed
by the Master Planning Committee.
Over the next few months, the committee will continue to analyze
facility needs along with student achievement goals, enrollment
projections, and building capacities to provide the district
with a comprehensive set of strategies to address future
building needs.
“Port Jervis is at an important cross road. Much has been done
over the past two years to improve our school buildings and
grounds. While we are in a much better state now than we were
prior to the start of the current Capital Construction Project,
we still have much to do,” said Superintendent John Xanthis.
“The proposed building project would give us another opportunity
to use EXCEL Aid to address many of our remaining needs - with
no impact on taxes,” explained Xanthis.
But, Xanthis says “we can’t stop there.” He feels strongly that
the district must plan for the future by looking at ways
to address the increasingly-evident need to build a new school.
“While the size, location and grade-level configuration of the
school have yet to be determined, the district is already
looking for an innovative way to fund its construction,” said
Xanthis. “On December 16, we are asking voters to consider a
proposition that would allow the district to raise money for a
future school over the next 10 years by rolling unspent budget
funds into a designated capital reserve account at the end of
each school year.”
•
Capital Project/Reserve Fund Newsletter
•
Schedule of Community Information Meetings
•
Q & A
-
Answers to frequently asked questions
•
Watch video -
For those unable to attend one of the meetings,
the
district has prepared a brief video with detailed
information about the
proposals.
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