The public hearing on the St. Johnsville Central School District’s proposed $11.25 million capital improvement project will be held Thursday at 7 p.m. in the middle school/high school auditorium.
The project, which goes before voters on Dec. 11, has been broken down into two propositions, the first encompassing construction and renovation at both school buildings, the second for a new gymnasium at D.H. Robbins Elementary School.
Proposition One, at a cost of $9.36 million, asks voters to approve reconstruction of the science wing at the middle school/high school.
The science labs, which were last renovated in 1961, are considered outdated, according to Superintendent Christine Battisti.
“The state’s academic standards for science have changed and our science curriculum has expanded, but our classrooms and laboratories have remained virtually unchanged since they were built,” said Battisti.
Also as part of the proposition, the gymnasium in the high school, the sports field and the chorus room would be renovated and made accessible for individuals with disabilities. The work would include building an access road alongside the soccer and softball fields, adding handicapped parking spots, installing an elevator for the chorus room, replacing the bleachers in the gym and adding handicapped seating.
The main entrance at the middle school/high school building would be revamped to provide for more security, and the public address system, doors and various hardware would be replaced, as well as the floor in the gymnasium that is currently warping.
Renovations and construction at D.H. Robbins Elementary School would include adding a wireless network, repaving the parking lot, eliminating moisture problems in crawl spaces, replacing doors and hardware and adding an emergency generator for backup power.
A portion of the building’s roof would also be replaced, and the chimney and walls throughout the building would be resurfaced where they are cracking. Energy efficiency efforts would include replacing five skylights and renovating the hot water system.
Proposition Two, at a cost of $1.9 million, asks residents to decide whether to build a new gymnasium at the elementary school.
The current gymnasium was built in 1949 and has not been renovated since, according to Battisti.
At one time, the small, one-station gymnasium featured four basketball hoops, but Battisti said two had to be taken down at the request of the insurance company, which was concerned about the lack of foam on the walls immediately behind the hoops.
The project would replace the gymnasium with a larger, two-station facility.
Battisti noted that there are a number of groups competing for gymnasium time and space in addition to K-5 students who use the gym for classes and recess. These groups include middle and high school sports teams; a pre-kindergarten class; two Head Start classes and students in the Advantage After School program who need the gym from 3-6 p.m., a time when the gym is needed for team practices.
In addition, the district has plans to relocate the sixth grade to D.H. Robbins. “Scheduling in a one-station gym to meet state requirements and the needs of our students has become an extremely difficult challenge,” said Battisti. “Recess is a real problem for us.”
If the proposal is approved, the old gym will be converted into a library and teacher’s office.
If only Proposition One is approved, there will be no increase in local property taxes due to the capital project. If both propositions are approved, a taxpayer with a property assessed at $50,000 and a STAR exemption would see a tax increase of about $5.85 in his or her school tax bill. Those with property valued at $50,000 and an enhanced STAR exemption would see no change in property taxes due to the project, and those with no STAR exemption and property valued at $50,000 would see a $14.62 increase in their tax bill due to the project.
The first proposition can be approved and go forward even if the second is rejected.
The second proposition can be approved only if the first one is accepted.
Voting will take place on Dec. 11 from noon-9 p.m. in the lobby of the middle school/high school auditorium.