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PROPOSED CAPITAL
PROJECT FOR DECEMBER 8 Q.
What are the advantages of this project? A. Educationally, the centralization of
teaching services allows for greater cooperation, staff development, partnerships
and program planning in a central building environment. Economically, the consolidation of
services eliminates duplication of services and additional supplies and
materials for off-campus sites. There
is an economy of scale that supports reduced costs for a centralized
educational site. Transportation routes will be arranged to come
directly to one elementary school site.
There is also assistance from the state with up to $1.8 million in
additional state aid to accomplish the task of consolidation of the
District’s elementary schools. Q: Why
should the public consider this project? A: Declining enrollments have a major
impact on the district, particularly in the elementary schools.
Stephentown transferred 44 students this fall to Berlin Elementary. Grafton
currently has 87 students. Future energy costs for these buildings
remain a consideration for long range planning. Since school districts
are in the business of purchasing human services (enough staff to serve students)
their salaries and benefits are the large part of annual costs. Closing
two elementary schools would reduce some staff and save an estimated
$734,906, or more, annually. Fixing the remaining school buildings and facilities in the
long range plan must be accomplished either through the annual budget, which
would carry a greater local cost, or as a capital project with additional
state aid. This project is proposed as a capital project with state
building aid funds, additional EXCEL aid, and district reserves to assist the
taxpayer by reducing the local tax impact of the project. Q:
Why did the Board of Education move this project
along for a public referendum on December 8? A: Since 2005, when a State Education
Department (SED) review revealed serious deficiencies in the District’s
school buildings, architects, financial advisors, the State Education
Department, staff and some district residents have encouraged the Board of
Education to reach a final decision on needs for a capital project public
referendum. To assist the Board of Education in the decision, in the
summer of 2009, the Interim Superintendent began to work with a group of some
22 residents from across the district. These people reviewed project
suggestions from the past district discussions and provided their own
opinions. As taxpayers and people interested in their communities and
the education of children in the district, they recommended the $19,705,000
project to meet the needs of the district children and the taxpayer.
The Superintendent’s Advisory Committee identified a plan, met with the Board
and gave their best advice. The merit of their advice was given due
consideration as the majority of the Board moved forward with this capital
project decision. Once a decision was made on October 20, the Board
must allow 45 days before the vote can take place under law and the December
8 date was established. Q. What is
anticipated tax impact of the project? A. The school district financial
advisors have provided financial information which indicate
the tax impact based on a $125,000 home to the resident with Senior Star is
an annual cost of $90, or $7.50 per month. For the Star Program the
annual cost is $131, or $10.92 and for the $125,000
home with no Star, the annual cost is estimated at $173, or $14.42 per month. Q, When would
the first payment for this project be in my taxes? A. Impact for the bonding of this project is
planned for Fall of 2013. Please check the school website at www.berlincentral.org and go to
Project Information for a long range view of the next five years of estimated
budget impact. The site will show you the savings for closure of
Stephentown and the estimated savings for the closure of Grafton. Q: What
new construction would occur? A: Six classrooms would be added to the Q: What is the Transition Plan? A: A
plan was created with community input to guide the consolidation of three elementary
schools to a single site. Interim Superintendent Charlotte Gregory
presented the plan to each elementary school community as plans moved forward
for a single site. Stephentown moved students in September of 2009 and
Grafton is scheduled to move students in September 2012. Students in
Grade one at Stephentown were moved to Berlin Elementary in September 2008
when the class size dwindled to 4 students. This fall 44 students from
Stephentown moved into the Q: Was there thought given to building a new
building? A: The
Board of Education considered multiple options with more than 70 hours of
discussion and review. Architects estimated a new building to house
some 450 students would cost between 24-25 million. These costs escalate at
the rate of 8% per year. Renovation of the 1936 WPA building at Q.
Can’t we plan to make these repairs on an
annual basis instead of getting involved in this project? Why now? A. The State allows for a $100,000
capital project on an annual basis, which the district has used for the last
two years. We do receive 75% state building aid on such annual small
projects. In order to accomplish the work necessary in the district at
that rate, however, it would take 197 years, based on current costs.
Work done out of our annual budget does not have the benefit of any state
building aid. A capital project
amortized over a 15 year period, allows work to get done now with State
building aid. Q. How will
the project be financed? A. Capital reserve funds $1.1 million Other reserve funds $400,000 Excel state aid $324,625 $1,824,625 These up-front funds are available to
help defray the cost of the project with no additional local tax impact. To be bonded: $17,880,375 Total project cost $19,705,000 The total estimated state aid for this project is
$11,925,464. This figure includes $1.8
million in additional State aid which is available to assist the taxpayers
with consolidation of the District’s elementary schools. Q. What
happens if the state pulls back building aid? A.
There is no known history of the state reducing building aid on a school
project, once it is approved. In the Governor’s proposals regarding
possible funding cuts, there is no reference to cutting back on state
building aid for schools. |