Voters in Schoharie CSD on Tuesday approved a fiscal plan for 2022-23 that lowers the tax levy. They also approved a $25.9 million capital project.
A school board election was also held that resulted in all incumbents being re-elected to the board. Terry Burton received 220 votes; Daniel Guasp had 192 votes; and Tara Barton had 220 votes. Challenger Laura Rosenthal received 178 votes.
The $25.9 million fiscal plan approved by a vote of 231 to 94, has an overall increase of 1.63 percent – or $416,418 – from the current year. However, for the second year in a row the district is adopting a budget that decreases the overall tax levy.
Under the fiscal plan, the tax levy will go down by 1.84 percent. A 3 percent increase in New York State Foundation Aid will help allow the district to enhance student academic services and support, while reducing the overall local tax burden.
The proposed budget for 2022-23 includes new funding for textbooks, math programming and learning materials district wide; a new full-time science teacher at the Jr./Sr. High School; a PE teacher/athletic coordinator position for the Jr./Sr. High School; and a new full-time, in-house IT position that will service the Elementary and Jr./Sr. High School on a daily basis. The district is projecting a $412,000 increase in contractual salaries districtwide and a $45,000 increase in energy costs. There is also an anticipated $119,000 increase in employee health insurance and prescription drug costs.
“The goal of this fiscal plan is to place our students as the top priority, while maintaining fiscal responsibility to our Schoharie taxpayers,” Superintendent David M. Blanchard said. “We must ensure our valued students are college and/or career ready.”
Capital Project, Energy Performance Project approved
In conjunction with the school budget vote and board election, Schoharie CSD voters by a vote of 211 to 113 approved a $25.9 million capital project to make significant renovations to the Elementary School and athletic fields. A separate $2.75 million Energy Performance Project was also approved by a vote of 217 to 107. A repair reserve fund was approved by a vote of 226 to 96. A school bus purchase proposition was approved by a vote of 226 to 94. A proposition to help fund the Schoharie Free Library was approved by a vote of 222 to 103.
The capital project will be funded mostly through state aid. As with the most recent building project, there would be no impact on the tax levy. For every dollar spent on the project, New York state will fund 86 cents. The remainder would come through an existing capital reserve fund.
“This is an exciting proposal that will match in the Elementary School the renovations we recently completed in the Jr./Sr. High School. If approved, the end result will be modernized, secure and safe learning environments from Pre-K through grade 12,” Superintendent David M. Blanchard said. “Both the building project and the energy project will lead to efficiencies that save taxpayer dollars down the road and keep our district focused on our students.”
Key components of the project for the Elementary School include converting the current gym, cafeteria and kitchen area into a full-size gymnasium with a stage at one end. This gym would be slightly smaller than the Jr./Sr. High School gym.
Under the plans, the 1952 gym in the Elementary will be remodeled into a new library, while the current library space will be converted into the cafeteria/kitchen. Bathrooms with secure outdoor entrances/exits will be installed in the rear of the new cafeteria. Multi-stall bathrooms elsewhere in the current wing will be renovated. A window and door replacement is planned, and classroom doorways will have modern security features.
Roof work is planned for both the Elementary wing and the Jr./Sr. High School wing, which will otherwise have a more limited scope of work. There will be window replacements in classrooms and offices in the 1999 wing, as well as renovated boys’ and girls’ locker rooms.
The athletic fields adjacent to the Elementary School will be redone with the original grass soccer and softball/baseball fields, which were created over swampy ground, replaced with synthetic turf fields. Current conditions of the field have resulted in the fields being un-playable for large parts of the fall and spring athletics season. Light towers will be added to the fields and the overall work will lead to greatly expanded opportunities for student-athletes. In addition, the tennis courts will be expanded from four to five separate courts.
The $2.75 million Energy Performance Project has the following components:
LED lighting enhancement
- Air handler upgrade – Elementary and Jr./Sr. High School
- Upgrade/install controls on boilers
- Construct solar canopy over buses, which will generate renewable energy and ease snow removal work on the bus fleet
- The creation of a solar field on the North 40 space, which will generate renewable energy and savings for the district.
- EV charging stations
This project will be funded through state aid and energy cost savings. There are no anticipated impacts on the tax levy. If approved, the projects would go through a design and bidding phase that would last between one to two years, with work expected to commence in 2024. Major renovations would take place over summer break and other periods when the school building is not open for regular classes. Disruptions to the normal school day are expected to be minimal and classes would continue as scheduled in the Elementary School.