By Nick Mattera
The Tonawanda News
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An $11 million capital improvement project at Niagara-Wheatfield Central Schools to address what district officials are calling pressing safety and security measures will have a limited impact of the tax base.
The proposed project, which is up for a public referendum on Sept. 21, will only cost district taxpayers about $700,000 due to a combination of factors.
School officials who released details of the proposed project last month are now looking to clarify the actual burden to taxpayers and convey that, despite tough economic times statewide, now is an opportunistic time to invest in capital projects.
The $6.1 million greenway portion of the two-part project will create and improve recreational facilities and opportunities at the school and would do so at no burden to the taxpayer. This is possible because of the $360,000 the district receives each year from the New York Power Authority relicensing agreement.
Due to the high amount of state building aid available to districts, 86 percent of any money Niagara-Wheatfield spends on capital projects is considered reimbursable by the state Education Department.
“The reduction in operating aid is not good news. However, an increase in building aid confirms this may be the last time schools like Niagara-Wheatfield, which is proposing this capital improvement project, can take advantage of high state building aid,” Niagara-Wheatfield Business Administrator Kerin Dumphrey said. “Without the state’s financial commitment to maintaining its public schools, most districts would not be able to afford to keep their facilities up to the demands of the state Education Department’s safety codes."
The additional work will result in an additional tax burden placed on district residents. On a home valued at $100,000 residents will pay an additional $21.41 in property taxes per year for the next three or four years if the referendum passes, Dumphrey said.
School District Superintendent Carl Militello stressed the need to address the basic safety and health concerns at all of the school buildings to ensure the quality of the schools remain on par with state mandates.
“These are things that need to be done to keep us up-to-date and progressive,” Militello said.
Improvements include:
• $1,063,000 in work at Colonial Village Elementary for the replacement of degraded parking lots, reconfiguration of the school bus drop-off areas, improvements to the storm water drainage system and new sidewalks for handicapped accessibility, adding new playground and building accessibility, and $240,000 for a new vented synthetic gym floor.
• $750,000 for replacing 50,000 square feet of roofing over the pool, gym, cafeteria and auditorium area at Colonial, $263,000 for expanding the technology server room to increase cooling, power and move equipment.
• Districtwide, 58 interactive white boards would be installed costing $365,000.
• $631,000 in work at Edward Town Middle School to replace concrete entrance steps and handrails in the front of the building, to add a snow melt system and additional lighting to improve safety.
• At Errick Road Elementary, an additional storm drain would be installed.
“There is nothing more important in a school district than to ensure the safety and security of our students ...” Militello said. “This plan, at this time, with the advantages built in for financing it, is something we, as a district, cannot afford not to do.”
The greenway portion of the project will include a 2.1-mile bike path and nature trail will be built along Cayuga Creek and will include an outdoor classroom, playground, parking lot and on-site security cameras.
Militello said improvements to the athletic facilities will include a repaired all-weather track, new concession stand, storage facility and press box. New bleachers and home and away locker rooms will also be constructed at the 50-year-old football stadium.
If voter approval is received, work would begin in spring 2011 and continue into 2012.
