The Schoharie CSD Board of Education on Thursday, March 19, approved putting a capital project to voters in May along with the 2026-27 proposed budget.
The $3.9 million proposal addresses needs identified in the district’s recent five-year building condition survey. If approved by voters on May 19, the proposal would be funded through a $500,000 transfer from the district’s capital reserve fund and state aid. There would be no impact on the tax levy.
The bulk of the project involves the removal of two fuel oil tanks that have surpassed their expected life span. These two tanks – one that fuels the Jr./Sr. High School and the other that fuels the Elementary School – will be replaced with one propane tank that fuels the entire building.
While voters in the last decade have approved two larger capital projects that reimagined both wings of the school building, the new proposal is limited to address specific high-needs areas and create energy and maintenance efficiencies that are projected to save the district money over the long haul.
The current boilers in the building will be converted to operate on propane instead of fuel oil. New York State requires school buildings that use fuel oil to only purchase biodiesel, which is prone to bacterial and fungal contamination. This contamination has led to costly and frequent service repairs. The switch to propane is expected to alleviate this problem.
Should the fuel oil tanks – installed in 1995 – be left in the ground and continue to be utilized, the district risks expensive remediation should they fail. Emergency repairs that are not incorporated into capital projects such as this are not eligible for state aid.
In addition to the heating system work, the proposed project includes renovations to the Jr./Sr. High School main entrance, including new doors; some HVAC upgrades not covered under previous projects; outdoor lighting for externally accessible restrooms in the Elementary School wing; and roof replacements for those sections of the building not previously done in other projects.
The proposed capital project will appear on the ballot on Tuesday, May 19, as a separate proposition in addition to the annual budget vote and board of education election. Voting will be held from noon to 8 p.m. More information will be available soon on the proposed school budget.