The Dolgeville Central School District’s EXCEL (Expanding our Children’s Education and Learning) project has received approval from the New York State Department of Education. With the formal acceptance of the work plans, and the issuance of the necessary permits and certificates, the board of education has put the renovations out to bid, with the opening scheduled for Thursday, May 22.
“We have been waiting a long time for this, and the day has finally come,” said Superintendent of Schools Ted Kawryga. “We are now well on our way and can fully concentrate our attention on the bid process. After that process is complete we will look to begin construction.”
District residents approved the $7 million project in April 2007 by a vote of 131 to 65, and ever since Kawryga has been questioned about when construction would begin. “I get asked that question a lot from residents, but it is a long process, with the longest wait coming on the approval of the plans from the SED. Now that our plans have been approved, construction should begin soon,” said Kawryga.
Specifically the plan calls for replacement of the entrance canopy at the elementary school; an upgrade to the fire alarm and strobe system; replacement of the exterior doors; replacement of the main entrance doors; a lighting upgrade; replacement of the toilet partitions in the elementary school boys’ room; installation of a new telephone system; a security system upgrade; installation of a new emergency generator for the emergency systems, pumps and kitchen equipment; installation of a new domestic hot water tank; an upgrade to the electrical distribution system; replacement of asbestos ceilings; removal of asbestos tile flooring; measures to address crawl space moisture; replacement of the light panel and board in the school auditorium and expansion of the data network. The plan also called for repair to the stress cracks in the gymnasium partition; replacement of the 1986 gymnasium interior doors; replacement of the auditorium house lighting; replacement of the boilers; provision of an energy management system to increase efficiency; a lighting upgrade in the middle and high school; roofing the balance of the 1953 high school wing; roofing the cafeteria, locker rooms and band area; roofing the 1968 wing; replacement of the 1968 wing skylights; replacement of the 1954 wing and cafeteria windows; replacement of the air conditioning unit in the auditorium; an upgrade to four toilet rooms; reconstruction of the 1986 gymnasium bleachers; an upgrade to the door hardware; installation of an assistive listening system in the auditorium for people hard of hearing and the renovation of the existing girls’ team room to provide an accessible team room for girls.
“This is not a fancy project,” said Kawryga. “I am glad that the community agreed with us and felt these upgrades were necessary, not only to improve the energy efficiency of the building, but to improve the level of safety and security for our students. We hope to translate these energy improvements into monetary savings, which may have an impact on our budget as soon as 2009. We will have to wait and see.”
The project incorporates $736,196 in EXCEL aid received from the state.
It also incorporates the use of the district’s traditional state building aid, which amounts to 93 to 95 percent of the project. The taxpayer obligation is five to seven percent of the project, which the EXCEL aid is designed to cover. Since state Dormitory Authority and capitalized interest rates are not eligible for EXCEL aid, the district anticipates a tax impact of $.04 per $1,000 of assessed valuation in year one.