Utica City School District Special Capital Project For many months, the Utica City School District Board of Education has been considering options for a capital project proposal to put before voters. Much of this time has been spent seeking input from those who would be affected by any plan the board approves. Some of those involved in these discussions are
· The Utica Board of Education, Superintendent Marilyn Skermont and her administrative team;
· Synthesis, Inc., an architectural firm hired by the district to inspect the current buildings and propose changes;
· The Bond Advisory Committee, a large group of Utica residents who have volunteered their time to listen to ideas and offer their input;
· Members from the Strategic Decision Making Committees in our schools;
· Utica City School District principals, faculty, and staff; and
· Utica citizens who are concerned about children’s safety, traffic patterns, and other ways the project could have an impact.
The information-gathering process is not finished. The Board voted on April 22, 2008 to approve the following plan. Even with this final proposal has been approved by the board of education, there will be more meetings to explain why the final plan was chosen, to display some of the planned changes using diagrams and drawings, and to answer any questions residents may have. The board of education takes its responsibility for this project very seriously. The goal is to craft a plan in a careful, thoughtful way, listening to everyone’s opinions and ideas so the final result is a proposal the majority of our district residents can be proud of and support. |
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VOTE:
Voters will decide on whether to allow the district to bond for the money to renovate and expand for the future.
NOTE:
The project will be funded by:
98% State Building Aid
+ 2% EXCEL Grant Funds
= 100% Funded
with $0 Tax Increase
to Local Tax Payers
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Photos above represent many of the types of repairs necessary throughout our schools.
Top row
L to R: roof at Proctor, ceiling at Columbus, floor at Kernan.
Second row L to R: technology
infrastructure at King, plumbing at Donovan, and basement stairs at Conkling.
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Project Plan
The superintendent, board, administrators, architects, bond advisory committee, and others involved in the process have worked hard over the past few months to develop a good proposal for voters.
The process of resolving differences of opinion, addressing multiple concerns that seem to work against each other, and staying within the constraints of a zero tax increase can appear disjointed and confusing. Yet this is exactly what democracy requires. In fully debating many opinions, we believe that the best ideas will prevail. The board of education is strongly committed to conducting its meetings in a way that gives all district residents easy access, either by attending meetings or by watching them on channel 3 (formerly channel 10). However, this commitment means that the public sees everything from discussions to disagreements and, at times, the many ideas being debated may become confusing.
 The Following Is The Project Plan
The architects of Synthesis, Inc. spent many weeks carefully examining each UCSD building, including the currently vacant Wetmore School. They crawled and walked through parts of these structures where other people rarely go to check structural supports. They concluded that although many repairs are badly needed, the basic
structure of each building is sound. The “skin” of each building (roofs, windows, doors, etc.) is what needs to be renovated. We must provide each building with new roofs, new windows, and new doors.
Most buildings will also receive new; fuel-efficient heating systems to reduce heating costs.
The number of new classrooms added to each school will vary, depending on the projected student population in the year 2016 at each school. The added classroom space will meet our needs even with increased future enrollment.
We also need to be better neighbors to residents in each of the areas where our schools are located. Any plan we propose will include ways to address the current delivery procedures at every school, both for our school buses and for parents
who transport their children to and from school. The remedies will be unique to each school in order to ensure our children’s safety and reduce concerns for local homeowners.
One of the state’s goals for EXCEL building grants is to make sure schools can take advantage of emerging technologies. Our schools need to be rewired and updated so all Utica students learn to use the technology they will need to be
competitive in today’s global economy.
Any final proposal will ensure all Utica students are able to attend schools in
good repair with similar advantages in every building in the district. Individuals
with disabilities will be accommodated in all buildings as required by law.
This is an important priority of the board of education, and another goal of state EXCEL funding.
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To The Community:
Dear Friends, Parents, Staff and Community:
The Utica City School District has a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to receive state building aid and a state EXCEL
grant, which will fund a $187.6 million capital project with no
tax increase to our community.
For more than a year, the Utica City School District has been
planning a renovation project for all of our schools. Included
in this project is new heating, ventilation, roofs, windows,
cafeterias, auditoriums, technology labs and additional
classrooms. Our schools are in need of repairs / renovations
and our children deserve the best schools we can provide.
Our children are the future. Providing state-of-the-art,
technology-enhanced schools opens the door for our children
to compete in our global economy. New jobs with advanced
skills are emerging daily and we want our children to be able to
meet the challenges of the future job market.
This huge building project will also impact the economic
growth of our city and region as we hope to utilize local vendors
to provide project support in jobs, materials, and other facets of
economic growth.
Please help us by sharing the information in this newsletter
to extend our message and encourage your family and friends to
exercise their right to vote. We have included all the important
information concerning the upcoming vote on Tuesday, July
29, 2008 between 12:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
We know that with the summer approaching many people
will be taking vacations and we do not want you to miss out
on your right to vote. You may contact the Board of Education
Office 792-2078 to request an absentee ballot. It is essential that
every person who is eligible, vote.
Please note that sixty percent (60%) of those voting must
approve the referendum in order to pass this project. Every vote
counts for “Our Kids and Utica’s Future”.
Again, please vote!
Thank you for your support and cooperation!
Sincerely,
Marilyn Skermont
Superintendent of Schools |
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"We cannot always build the future for our youth,
but we
can build our youth for the future.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dear District Resident:
Students need a safe, welcoming environment
equipped with 21st century technology. Our children
need to be able to compete in an ever-challenging
workplace. We need to give them the tools to compete.
When people say that they shouldn’t have to
pay school taxes because they have no children or
grandchildren in our schools, I remind them of the
complexities of the world we live in. I also stress that all
of Utica’s students are deserving of the same advantages
your children or grandchildren once enjoyed.
Absentee ballots and applications are available by
calling the Board Clerk’s Office at 792-2078.
Please exercise your right to vote on July 29.
Please exercise your right to invest in our
community’s future.
Sincerely,
Barbara K. Klein
Utica Board of Education President |
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Highlights of School Improvements
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SCHOOL |
IMPROVEMENTS |
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New Cafetorium
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Library Expansion
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New PA System
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Library and Computer Room Expansion
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Security System Improvements
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Technology Enhancements
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Drop Off/Pick Up Improvements
5/2009
11/2012
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New Roof
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Cafetorium Reconfiguration
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Kindergarten Room Heating Improvements
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New PA System
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Heating System Upgrades
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Security System Improvements
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Technology Enhancements
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Drop Off/Pick Up Improvements
5/2009
11/2012
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View Schematics
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5/2009
11/2012
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View Schematics
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5/2010
11/2013
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View Schematics
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5/2010
11/2013
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New Roof
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Auditorium and Gym Updates
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Floor Repair
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New PA System
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Fence to Neighboring Property
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Security System Improvements
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Technology Enhancements
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Drop Off/Pick Up Improvements
5/2010
11/2013
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New Roof
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Cafetorium and Auditorium Updates
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Accessibility Improvements
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New PA System
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Security System Improvements
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Technology Enhancements
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Drop Off/Pick Up Improvements
5/2009
11/2012
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View Schematics
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8/2008
11/2011
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View Schematics
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New Cafetorium With Stage
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New Roof
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Four Classroom Addition
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Security System Improvements
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Technology Enhancements
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Drop Off/Pick Up Improvements
5/2010
11/2013
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View Schematics
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New Roof
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New Windows & Doors Allowance
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Interior Refurbishment
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Exterior Masonry/Stucco Repair
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Security System Improvements
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Heating System Upgrades
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Technology Enhancements
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Sprinkler System Updates
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Drop Off/Pick Up Improvements
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Address Moisture Infiltration in Basement
8/2008
11/2010
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View Schematics
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New Roof with Repaired Skylights
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Expanded & Renovated Auditorium
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Technology Enhancements
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Heating & Ventilation System Upgrades
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Cafeteria & Athletic Facilities Improvements
8/2008
11/2011
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View Schematics
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Elevator Installed
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New Roof with Repaired Skylights
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State of the art Renovations for Classrooms,
Offices & Gymnasium
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Technology Enhancements
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Heating & Ventilation System Updates
8/2008
11/2011
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View Schematics
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New Cafeteria & Kitchen Facility
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Upgraded Roof, Doors & Windows
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Renovated & Expanded Gymnasium
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Addition of Auxiliary Gym
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New Facilities in Sports Complex at the Stadium
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Handicap-accessible Concession Stand Addition
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Modifications & Upgrades to Existing Sports Fields
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Auditorium Renovations & Updates
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Updated Student Lockers
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Loading Dock & Maintenance Shed Additions
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Heating, Ventilation & Plumbing Updates
5/2011
11/2014
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8/2008
11/20110
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Q. Why should we approve this project why does it need to be done now?
A. The opportunity to receive building money from
the state in such a large amount is an opportunity
that may not come our way again. The Utica City
School District can use the funds available from the
state, with no local tax increase, to prepare all Utica
students for successful futures. The percentage of
state aid available to us may be lower in the future;
the only way to lock in the current rate is for a
successful vote to take place.
Q. Why can’t we build new buildings since
we need more room for our students?
A. The money we receive from the state in the form
of EXCEL funding and state building aid comes
with regulations as to how it may be used. While
renovations and repairs within existing buildings are aidable in the amounts described, the aid rate for
new construction is much lower and would require
a local taxpayer share, therefore we won’t initiate
new construction. In addition, research shows that
no land is available for purchase in Utica that meets
the acreage requirements of the State Education
Department for new school construction.
Q. If the project is approved by voters in
July 2008, when is the earliest date that
construction can begin?
A. Architects have prioritized every item within the
construction project proposal. If voters approve the
project in July 2008, architects can immediately
begin meeting with principals and teachers at each
building to develop comprehensive plans that will
be submitted to the State Education Department
for approval. This process will take approximately
one year. We are hopeful that work can begin in
the summer of 2009 and that construction can be
completed by 2014.
Q. Why is it a good use of money to re-open
Wetmore? Can it be made safe?
A. Approximately 430 K-6 students live in the
Wetmore neighborhood, so re-opening Wetmore
will give these children a neighborhood school.
Wetmore has been vacant for 10 years, but it was
heated throughout that time and has been thoroughly cleaned. The building is structurally sound,
and essential elements, such as the gym floor, are
still in excellent shape.
Q. Where did the ten-year student
population projections come from?
A. The information came from Cohort Survival
Data and is based on a formula used by all school
districts. Birth data comes from the New Hartford
Clerk’s Office. The increase in refugee population
was estimated by looking at past trends.
Q. How will the plan ease traffic congestion
and be safer for our students at each
school?
A. The architects have made plans to increase safety and
relieve traffic congestion at each site. The plans vary
from school to school depending on the amount of
land available at each site and the impact any changes
would have on the existing landscape. Please see the
concept maps for the school(s) your child(ren) attend
to see what has been proposed concerning bus loops
and parent pick-up / drop-off areas.
Q. How much will operational costs increase
as a result of this project and re-opening
Wetmore?
A. Operational costs will increase in the future regardless because our student population continues to
increase. Because there will be more students, we
have a need for increased staff.
Q. Will the new boilers be energy efficient?
Are we going “green”?
A. Yes, all of the new systems will be energy efficient,
or “green,” including heating, ventilation, lighting
and security, electrical systems, etc.
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Q. Why aren’t the monies for the capital
project being used to fund programs and
hire teachers?
A. The money for the capital project comes with rules
about the ways it can be used. It can only be used for
construction, including renovations and additions,
technology infrastructure, and to address safety and
security issues.
Q. What is being planned for the trees at
Jones School? Are any additions planned
for Jones?
A. Jones School has no land available for a new
building or an addition. We will not cut down any
healthy trees at the school. We will follow the
advice of an arborist in deciding which trees need to
be taken down for safety reasons, but we will save
all we can. Any changes to the parking lot will not
cause healthy trees to be lost.
Q. Is the 98% state building aid and the $7
million in EXCEL aid guaranteed?
A. Traditional state building aid changes every year,
however, the rate at which a capital project is funded
is determined by the state building aid rate in the
year the project is approved by voters. For 2007-08,
the state building aid ratio for the district is 98%.
State EXCEL aid is guaranteed for the entire project
as long as work begins within two years of when
the money was originally granted. The SED has
advised all school districts to act now in order to
ensure this aid is utilized.
District officials estimate that replacing boilers and related
infrastructure, including the system at Hughes School shown
above, will make the learning environment more comfor-table for
students, improve energy efficiency & reduce heating costs.
Q. Why can’t we build an addition to Proctor?
A. There is not enough land available to build
additions to Proctor within the specifications
required by the New York State Education
Department without eliminating the sports fields.
Q. What inflation rate has been built into the
projected budget for this project? How
do we know there will be enough money
to finish the projects at every school site?
A. More than six percent per year has been built into
the plan to allow for inflation over the seven years
the project will require to complete. Each school
will have a unique project number assigned by the
State Education Department so that funds allocated
for one school cannot be used at another school. We
have also included money for contingency planning
so that if unanticipated problems arise, we will have
the funds to cover the problem and complete the
original project as planned.
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YOU’LL BE VOTING ON:
- Voters will decide on whether to allow
the district to bond for $ 187,600,000 to
renovate and expand for the future.
- NO increase in taxes
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
- Qualified voter
- U.S. citizenship
- 18 years of age
- Resident of the district for 30 days prior
to the election
- Ability to read and write English
- You may request an absentee ballot from
the district clerk’s office by calling
792-2078.
- Completed absentee ballots must be
returned to the district clerk’s office no
later than 5:00 p.m., July 29, 2008.
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VOTER ELIGIBILITY
- Qualified voter
- U.S. citizenship
- 18 years of age
- Resident of the district for 30 days prior
to the election
- Ability to read and write English
- For information on how to register to
vote, contact the district clerk’s office by
calling 792-2078.
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UTICA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES DATES FOR
TOWN MEETINGS TO DISCUSS CAPITAL PROJECT REFERENDUM
July 3, 2008 (New Hartford, NY) – The Utica City School District will be conducting a series of town meetings to discuss the capital project referendum. The meetings will be held at the following locations:
All meetings will be at 6:00 p.m. in the school library:
- July 14, 2008 Proctor High School
- July 15, 2008 H. R. Jones Elementary School
- July 16, 2008 Donovan Middle School
- July 17, 2008 J. F. Kennedy Middle School
If Utica residents have any questions or concerns about the project, these meetings present a good opportunity to receive the answers due them as parents/residents and tax payers of the Utica City School District.
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