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Much needed CCSD building project will have zero tax impact
By Karrie Allen
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
CHATHAM — The Chatham Central school board hosted a town hall meeting Tuesday night, Oct. 6 to inform district residents and to discuss the proposed building project for the school district. Architect Matthew Monaghan with SEI Design Group out of Albany, which is the firm working on the building project, was also present.
Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo opened up the forum by stating that this project is for the purpose of continuing work on the schools and to finish some of the work already started. She said that the architects have reviewed previously identified needs, have taken physical tours of each building and have met with the leaders of each school, such as the principals, as well as the Facilities Committee.
Nuciforo then reviewed how this project will have no tax impact on district taxpayers. A previous vote allowed for $550,000 to be spent, federal stimulus (ARRA) money given to the district to be used this year is $547,714 and there is $1,425,578 in the Capital Reserve. All of this will pay for the local share, while state aid will double that, thus paying for the building project with zero tax impact. The total cost of the project is $5,087,282.
Nuciforo said the district considered “how much can we afford to do without going to our taxpayers.”
Some audience members questioned the use of the federal money, depleting the Capital Reserve and maintenance. Nuciforo said that the federal money is for a one-time expense and that this project is the perfect opportunity to use it. She did say, though, that the school district can’t spend this money without the $5.1 million bond resolution passing and that it has to be used within this school year.
As for the Capital Reserve, it seemed many were concerned about using it all now for this project, but Nuciforo said that the school district is working with a firm on a 10-year financial plan and that the Capital Reserve will build up again. The district has been saving for something like this, which is why the Capital Reserve is there.
Board member Francis Iaconetti said that it isn’t that the board hasn’t considered the maintenance aspect of this project, but clearly stated that maintenance is already budgeted in the school budget each year.
Monaghan added that the state is looking at the renovations not the maintenance of this project.
Nuciforo mentioned all of aspects of the project, such as preservation, energy efficiency, health and safety, technology upgrades and ADA upgrades, but Monaghan broke the building project down by each school.
At Chatham High School, improvements include upgrading the sports lights, which he added later there would be six, 80-foot tall towers placed around the football field, as well as renovating the boys and girls locker rooms. The kitchen and cafeteria would be upgraded for energy efficiency, as would the gym, with T5 High Bay lighting added.
Monaghan mentioned upgrades in the science and art rooms and Nuciforo once again mentioned the science rooms not having running hot water. She said Regents exams require running hot water for labs. She also said that the weight room doesn’t meet PE program standards and lacks much of what weight rooms in other districts have. And with the auditorium, she said it would basically be getting a “face lift” and “sufficient lighting.”
At the Chatham Middle School, the roofing work needs to be finished, windows need to be replaced with energy efficient ones and there needs to be site safety repairs, such as with walkways, ramps and storm water.
Mary E. Dardess Elementary School improvements include health office renovations, kitchen renovations, security upgrades at the main entrance, library/media center upgrades, health and safety upgrades, energy efficiency and site safety and parking improvement.
Nuciforo said that the MED library is “crowded” and upgrades would make the library a more useful, “instructional” space.
In all three schools, Monaghan said toilet rooms would meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. And in the CHS and MED kitchens, equipment would be replaced with energy efficient equipment.
Other improvements include a half court basketball court at the middle school. Nuciforo said that when she first came to the district, students asked if she could take care of the court so that they didn’t have to bounce their basketballs on grass.
Project Adventure was also brought up. A resident who lives across the street from CMS complained about the poles that were there — that they were an eyesore, especially since they weren’t being used.
Nuciforo did admit that Project Adventure was being underutilized, but added that the poles will be put back — at no cost — and that the district will “recommit ourselves” to running the program. She also added that middle school students will be working on a garden in the front of the building as part of beautifying school grounds.
Monaghan said that the walkway between the high school and tennis courts would be improved. A new concrete walkway will provide a safer way to get to the football field and track. He also said lighting will be added.
With this project, Nuciforo said that this will allow students in the Chatham Central School District to have what students in other school districts already have.
When asked by a resident what would happen if the bond resolution fails, Nuciforo simply stated, “I hope it doesn’t fail.”
This project is “not raising taxes and it’s work that needs to be done,” she said.
“Hopefully voters will see the value of this project,” added board member David O’Connor.
The school board will meet Tuesday, Oct. 13 for a workshop meeting, but the board must make a decision on the bond resolution by Oct. 25 if they want it to go out to voters Dec. 8.
Nuciforo mentioned that “This is a district that’s been making good decisions.”
She said that the board will meet with any group in the district before the vote, as well as post information on the Web site and send out a newsletter. She will also be meeting with the town supervisors in the next few weeks about the building project.
The workshop meeting Oct. 13 will be at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library.
Superintendent Cheryl Nuciforo opened up the forum by stating that this project is for the purpose of continuing work on the schools and to finish some of the work already started. She said that the architects have reviewed previously identified needs, have taken physical tours of each building and have met with the leaders of each school, such as the principals, as well as the Facilities Committee.
Nuciforo then reviewed how this project will have no tax impact on district taxpayers. A previous vote allowed for $550,000 to be spent, federal stimulus (ARRA) money given to the district to be used this year is $547,714 and there is $1,425,578 in the Capital Reserve. All of this will pay for the local share, while state aid will double that, thus paying for the building project with zero tax impact. The total cost of the project is $5,087,282.
Nuciforo said the district considered “how much can we afford to do without going to our taxpayers.”
Some audience members questioned the use of the federal money, depleting the Capital Reserve and maintenance. Nuciforo said that the federal money is for a one-time expense and that this project is the perfect opportunity to use it. She did say, though, that the school district can’t spend this money without the $5.1 million bond resolution passing and that it has to be used within this school year.
As for the Capital Reserve, it seemed many were concerned about using it all now for this project, but Nuciforo said that the school district is working with a firm on a 10-year financial plan and that the Capital Reserve will build up again. The district has been saving for something like this, which is why the Capital Reserve is there.
Board member Francis Iaconetti said that it isn’t that the board hasn’t considered the maintenance aspect of this project, but clearly stated that maintenance is already budgeted in the school budget each year.
Monaghan added that the state is looking at the renovations not the maintenance of this project.
Nuciforo mentioned all of aspects of the project, such as preservation, energy efficiency, health and safety, technology upgrades and ADA upgrades, but Monaghan broke the building project down by each school.
At Chatham High School, improvements include upgrading the sports lights, which he added later there would be six, 80-foot tall towers placed around the football field, as well as renovating the boys and girls locker rooms. The kitchen and cafeteria would be upgraded for energy efficiency, as would the gym, with T5 High Bay lighting added.
Monaghan mentioned upgrades in the science and art rooms and Nuciforo once again mentioned the science rooms not having running hot water. She said Regents exams require running hot water for labs. She also said that the weight room doesn’t meet PE program standards and lacks much of what weight rooms in other districts have. And with the auditorium, she said it would basically be getting a “face lift” and “sufficient lighting.”
At the Chatham Middle School, the roofing work needs to be finished, windows need to be replaced with energy efficient ones and there needs to be site safety repairs, such as with walkways, ramps and storm water.
Mary E. Dardess Elementary School improvements include health office renovations, kitchen renovations, security upgrades at the main entrance, library/media center upgrades, health and safety upgrades, energy efficiency and site safety and parking improvement.
Nuciforo said that the MED library is “crowded” and upgrades would make the library a more useful, “instructional” space.
In all three schools, Monaghan said toilet rooms would meet the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. And in the CHS and MED kitchens, equipment would be replaced with energy efficient equipment.
Other improvements include a half court basketball court at the middle school. Nuciforo said that when she first came to the district, students asked if she could take care of the court so that they didn’t have to bounce their basketballs on grass.
Project Adventure was also brought up. A resident who lives across the street from CMS complained about the poles that were there — that they were an eyesore, especially since they weren’t being used.
Nuciforo did admit that Project Adventure was being underutilized, but added that the poles will be put back — at no cost — and that the district will “recommit ourselves” to running the program. She also added that middle school students will be working on a garden in the front of the building as part of beautifying school grounds.
Monaghan said that the walkway between the high school and tennis courts would be improved. A new concrete walkway will provide a safer way to get to the football field and track. He also said lighting will be added.
With this project, Nuciforo said that this will allow students in the Chatham Central School District to have what students in other school districts already have.
When asked by a resident what would happen if the bond resolution fails, Nuciforo simply stated, “I hope it doesn’t fail.”
This project is “not raising taxes and it’s work that needs to be done,” she said.
“Hopefully voters will see the value of this project,” added board member David O’Connor.
The school board will meet Tuesday, Oct. 13 for a workshop meeting, but the board must make a decision on the bond resolution by Oct. 25 if they want it to go out to voters Dec. 8.
Nuciforo mentioned that “This is a district that’s been making good decisions.”
She said that the board will meet with any group in the district before the vote, as well as post information on the Web site and send out a newsletter. She will also be meeting with the town supervisors in the next few weeks about the building project.
The workshop meeting Oct. 13 will be at 6:30 p.m. in the high school library.
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joesweeney wrote on Oct 11, 2009 11:02 AM: