Capital Projects Bond Vote
Voters
approve both propositions
THANK YOU LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT JOHN
XANTHIS
POSTED FEB. 23, 2010
District residents overwhelmingly approved both of the
proposed capital renovation projects Feb. 23.
In spite of the harsh weather,
residents came out to support the propositions, which passed in
all four voting districts.
The
unofficial tally for Proposition 1 was 984 yes votes to
552 no votes.
Proposition 2 passed with 931 yes votes to 600 no
votes.
The passage of Proposition 1 - a $11.5 million school safety and
security project - will allow the district to address several critical safety,
security, and
energy efficiency issues.
Proposition 2, a $3.1 million school renovation
project, will allow the district to upgrade its
telephone system, renovate five science classrooms,
and make other needed upgrades at Port Jervis High
School.
Safety concerns prompt district to ask voters
to consider revised school renovation projects
POSTED:
JANUARY. 8, 2010
The Port Jervis School District
Board of Education voted unanimously to seek public
approval on February 23 for a revised plan to address school
safety and security concerns. Instead of one large referendum,
the Board divided the previously proposed capital project into
two smaller building projects.
Voters now have two separate options:
The first proposition – a $11.5 million capital
renovation project – is a scaled
down version of the proposition that was narrowly defeated in
November. All of the critical concerns that need to be addressed
to improve school safety, security, and energy efficiency are
included in this project.
The second proposition is a $3.1 million school
renovation project that would
allow the district to renovate the high school science labs and
make other needed facility upgrades.
The new plan was developed by members of the school board,
district staff, and master plan committee who have been working
together since November to find a way to fund the needed safety
and security upgrades. “After weighing all options, we
determined it would be irresponsible for the district not to ask
the community to reconsider using state EXCEL Aid, while it is
still available, to help us address these critical needs,” said
Superintendent John Xanthis.
EXCEL Aid is a special type of state aid that can only be used
for school building and renovation costs. The district used much
of its allocation to offset the cost of previous capital
projects. If the remaining allocation of approximately $676,000
is not used, Port Jervis will lose the money.
Both projects also qualify for state building aid. When
combined, the two types of state aid will cover approximately 87
percent of the renovation cost. The remainder of the project
cost is expected to be recouped through the money that would be
saved annually from the energy-efficient building upgrades.
Cost and student safety were the two factors that drove
the development of the new plan.
“We know that times are tough for everyone, but we feel we would
be remiss in our duty as board members if we did not offer our
community – while we still have access to the state EXCEL money
– another option to help us make our schools safer for our
students, teachers, and staff,” said Board of Education
President William Onofry.
One of the reasons why the board decided to go back to the
voters is it was determined that some of the safety and energy
efficiency upgrades – notably the replacement of the 1960-era
windows and ventilation systems – would offset most of the
projected local cost of the referenda.
By splitting the projects, Onfory said taxpayers also
have the option of supporting all of the building projects or
just those that are crucial to improving student safety.
But, since the projects in the second proposition are not
essential to school operations, the district will go forward
with these projects only if voters pass the first proposition.
If the first proposition is defeated, no work would be done.
If approved, the $11.5 million safety and security project would
allow the district to add safety vestibules to school entrances
and replace unsafe classroom windows with shatterproof units
that can serves as emergency exits. Xanthis says these and the
other proposed project upgrades are in line with what safety
experts are recommending for schools across the country.
“School security is a growing concern. Unfortunately, recent
incidents such as those that happened in Monroe-Woodbury and
Pine Plains highlight the need to heighten school security,”
said Xanthis.
PROPOSITIONS AT GLANCE
The proposed propositions will allow the district to address the
following school safety, educational, and energy efficiency
needs:
-
Proposition
1: $11.5 million safety and security project
- Improve school security by adding secure vestibule
entrances
and upgrading emergency exit lighting.
- Replace single-pane
classroom windows with shatterproof,
tempered glass units
that include a NY State Education
Department approved emergency classroom exit.
- Replace classroom heat/ventilation units district wide to
improve air
quality and improve energy efficiency.
- Replace the antiquated public address system at Hamilton
Bicentennial Elementary School to alleviate safety and
functionality concerns.
- Allowance for removal of asbestos.
Detailed information about the
two proposed propositions will be presented to the community
through informational meetings and a special bond newsletter
that will be mailed to all taxpayers within two weeks of the
vote.
•
WATCH TRACY BAXTER'S REPORT
ON RECORDONLINE.COM
NEW
•
CLICK HERE TO
DOWNLOAD THE BOND NEWSLETTER
•
MORE INFORMATION ON PROPOSITIONS
•
VIEW PRESENTATION FROM FEB. 4 BOARD MEETING
•
BREAKDOWN OF PROJECT COSTS
•
SCHEDULE OF BOND VOTE
PRESENTATIONS & TOURS
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