School District's $57.2M Project Vote On Oct. 28

Voters in the Ogdensburg City School District will head to the polls on Oct. 28 to determine the fate of the district's $57.2 million capital project.

The bulk of the project will be paid for through the district's 98/2 construction aid ratio, with the majority of the remaining local share being covered by EXCEL aid.

What remains once both building aid and EXCEL aid are accounted for is an average local share of $69,478 per year for 20 years starting in 2013 when the district expects to start paying for portions of the project.

While this local share, estimated by Benjamin J. Maslona, of Fiscal Advisors to total less than 1 percent of their total tax levy, Superintendent Timothy M. Vernsey said that initial estimates conservatively show the district saving approximately $70,000 per year.

The bulk of those savings would come from having two fewer buildings to maintain and provide utilities to.

"I'm not sure if it's the same or not, but when I installed a new boiler in my house I saved 35 to 40 percent," he said, noting that new boilers are going to be installed in the each of the remaining school buildings.

Another major component of the project is a one-story, 17 classroom addition to Kennedy Elementary School that will allow for the accommodation of students when Lincoln and Sherman elementary schools close.

"The district has been looking for a way to leverage EXCEL money for four years now," said Mr. Vernsey during a previous presentation from members of Bernier, Carr & Associates, the district's architectural firm.

The New York State Department of Education told Ogdensburg school officials the state would no longer pay for renovations to Lincoln and Sherman schools, recommending the district consolidate its elementary school by closing those two buildings.

According to an outline of the project, the addition to Kennedy school is expected to cost $8.9 million, the most expensive portion of the project. The new wing will house students in pre-kindergarten through second grade.

Once this work is complete, Principal Architect Shawn M. Travers said the building's main entrance will be moved to Jersey Avenue, rather than Park Street, where it is now.

"With the addition, we had to take a look at the existing layout of the building," he said.

The project also calls for a $1.55 million revamping of the cafeteria to accommodate the additional students the school will need to serve. The cafeteria will also be connected to the new gymnasium, with the two rooms being separated by a partition that may be opened to create additional space for when the school hosts special events.

Kennedy Elementary School accounts for $15.17 million of the project's total cost. "In all of these cases there are electrical, mechanical and plumbing upgrades," said Mr. Travers, explaining that a large part of the project is interior maintenance work and upgrades that are long overdue, not only at Kennedy, but in each of the district's buildings.

Another large portion of the project consists of upgrading the district's athletic facilities at OFA, including $2.4 million to build a new track that will also house a multipurpose turf field with grandstands and a pressbox.

Another $2.795 million will be used to recondition each of the athletic fields, including new backstops, dugouts and goals. The tennis courts will also be relocated with new courts being constructed next to State Street just past the Edgar A. Newell Golden Dome. The new tennis courts are expected to cost $445,000.

Work inside the building includes a consolidation of the libraries at OFA, which currently houses both a middle school and a high school library. "Each library will continue to have their own collection and computer space," said Mr. Travers, who noted that there will be a central checkout desk, allowing staff to monitor both libraries at the same time. The library work is expected to cost $1.34 million.

The relocation of the middle school library will also free up additional space to allow for a $4.16 million auditorium expansion. Once complete, the auditorium will have dressing rooms and space designated for the construction of sets. Currently, the middle school library and high school chorus rooms are used as dressing rooms. The expansion will also allow for handicapped access to the stage, increased handicapped seating and a total increase in seating capacity, adding an additional 85 seats.

Work scheduled for Ogdensburg Free Academy totals $26,825,000.

The Edgar A. Newell Golden Dome is also slated to receive $945,000 of maintenance work, the bulk of which is $400,000 for an upgrade to the ice refrigeration system.

Madill Elementary School is scheduled for $4,102,000 in work, including $860,00 for a new adaptive physical education gym and classroom. Mr. Travers noted that the adaptive physical education gym is currently housed in an old locker room area.

Polls for the vote will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with residents living west of the Oswegatchie River voting at Madill Elementary School. Those living east of the Oswegatchie River will vote at Ogdensburg Free Academy.

Board of Education member Michael J. Tooley asked if the hours for this vote were different than the hours for their latest budget vote when polls were open from noon to 9 p.m.

"It's basically giving people more time to vote," said Board of Education President Frederick P. Bean.

Mr. Tooley suggested using those same hours for upcoming budget and school board elections as well.

"Budget votes are just as important," he said. Mr. Vernsey said that while no dates have been set yet, he's expecting to announce dates for a series of public hearings on the project as early as next week.

Board member Dr. Angela M. Rufa also asked what the status was of a report on the district's staffing and how it will change once the project is completed.

Mr. Vernsey said that he's expecting to have the report ready for the next meeting, adding, "We could certainly provide estimates."