On March 1, Dolgeville Central School District residents will head to the polls to vote on a proposed $15.8 million capital project that includes maintenance and renovations to aging facilities, upgrades to the bus garage and athletic facility, and a new turf field. The Board of Education approved the referendum at a special meeting on Jan. 6.
Visit our Capital Project 2022 page for details or continue to read the story below.
The $15.8 million project includes two propositions. The first proposition for $12,854,400 includes work at the school building and bus garage.
To pay for it, the district would use a combination of about 78 percent reimbursement in New York state aid and district reserves. The proposition would not increase local taxes.
The second proposition for $2,957,300 would include athletic facility work, for which district would receive approximately 88 percent in state aid. The remaining money would come from reserves and an increase of 1.1 percent to local taxes.
In order for proposition two to pass, voters must first approve proposition one.
“We’re doing this project because parts of our buildings are worn and aging and are in need of renovations and upgrades,” said Superintendent Joseph Gilfus.
“The buildings are heavily used day in and day out by both the school and the community, and just like a home, things wear out and are in need of replacement.”
If voters approve the project, work would begin during the summer of 2023 and conclude around September, 2024.
Project Details
The first proposition includes work on multiple areas of the main school building.
The work includes: additional energy efficient HVAC upgrades, which includes new boilers, controls, and unit ventilators; replacing aging sections of the roof; addressing damaged brick and mortar; expanding the distribution of emergency power; and adding power panels in the elementary school.
The first proposition also calls for extensive bus garage renovations. That includes: roofing repairs; concrete apron and drainage work to the parking area; and a building addition, which would include a driver’s training room, accessible rest rooms, and an office space.
Additionally, the first proposition includes upgrading the field in the center of the track from natural grass to synthetic turf. The district’s goal is to use the field to provide extended programs for both the school and community youth programs (such as AYSO soccer, Pop Warner, Little League, etc.).
The second proposition calls for renovations and additions to the district’s athletic facilities.
That would mean: replacing “Big Blue,” the building between the track and football field with rest rooms, a concession stand, permanent seating for 500 spectators, and a press box; upgrading the track; and installing new field lighting.
“With this new state-of-the-art complex, both school and community groups would utilize the field and track, and the lights would allow for extended use. We envision this multi-use complex being used for music, academic, co-curricular, recreational, youth and community programs,” Gilfus said.
“This project would allow us to address some pressing issues around the district while also creating new points of pride that our entire learning community can not only benefit from, but be proud of.”