Residents can expect to receive a post card with information about the proposed capital project and upcoming vote on Monday, November 10.  We have received some additional questions from community members and wanted to ensure that all residents had access to those questions and answers.  As a district, it’s our responsibility to be transparent in our communication efforts with our school community.

Question: Why doesn’t the published legal notice spell out exactly what will be done in the project?

Answer: In New York State, legal notices are required to contain elements such as the general action that the Board wishes to take (in this case it’s a vote to replace the roofs on the elementary and secondary school), the maximum cost of the project, how the district intends to fund the project, and voting times and locations.  By design, legal notices should be clear and concise and should not include details that could mislead voters in any way.  For these reasons, typically a full project scope is provided to community members via other means (public board meetings, district publications, digital messaging, etc…)

Question: The legal advertisement mentions furnishings and equipment, does this mean that the district will be purchasing new furniture and machines?

Answer: This language is standard in most capital project propositions. In the context of this roof project, “furnishings and equipment” refers to incidental items that may need to be replaced or upgraded as part of the work, such as ceiling tiles, lighting fixtures, roof vents, or HVAC components. Including this language ensures the district can complete the project efficiently without delays.

Question: Under number two on the legal notice, the district intends to expend the amount of $5.142 million dollars. What does that mean for taxpayers?

Answer: This portion of the legal notice, simply put, means the district intends to spend this amount of money on the proposed capital project. The term “such sum” means that the district cannot exceed (go over) this amount.  

Question: Will the community be responsible for the total cost of the project?

Answer: No. The project is eligible for state building aid at a rate of 79.2%, meaning that residents will cover just over 20% of the total cost. Specifically, the state is projected to contribute $4,072,464, while the local district will be responsible for approximately $1,069,536.

Question: What makes the existing roof problematic?

Answer: The many roof areas of the two educational buildings are roofed with either urethane spray-foam roofing or rubber membrane roofing.  As the elements have broken down these materials, over time, they have become brittle and are cracking/breaking in many areas, which is causing water to penetrate the surface.  The silicone topcoat of the foam roofs requires costly maintenance and has become challenging to maintain.  Similarly, because of this breakdown, the roof has become unsuitable for foot traffic in many areas.                               

Question: What materials would the roofs be replaced with? 

Answer: The roof will be replaced with a synthetic rubber roof system.  This updated technology will provide the district with roofs that are resistant to both water and sun exposure. As with many structures in the northeast, our buildings are subjected to the weather-related elements that affect buildings in our region. Additionally, the proposed roof systems come with a 30-year warranty.