Members of the Onteora Central School District community are invited to a special presentation to learn more about the proposed $70.5 million tax-neutral capital project, which will appear as Proposition 2 on the May 20 school budget vote ballot. District administrators will be joined by architectural, engineering and construction professionals on Thursday, April 24, at 6 p.m. in the Onteora middle/high school cafeteria for the presentation, which will include a Q&A session.
“The proposed capital project is a key step in creating a modernized central K-12 campus in Boiceville that enhances education for all students, provides our staff with an incredible place to work, creates a central hub for our community to gather, and improves efficiency to reduce costs and create long-term financial stability for our taxpayers,” said superintendent Victoria McLaren.
The plan was collaboratively created with community members and subject matter experts who came out to participate in a series of community forums and focus groups. Although the project can be achieved without increasing the tax levy, McLaren noted, “It’s not just about the numbers, though. It is about ensuring that every student in our district receives the best possible education with the resources available — now and into the future, for generations to come.”
Among the many benefits for students are upgraded science labs and classrooms; a modernized library; expanded music, art and athletic spaces; a renovated auditorium; athletic fields with improved drainage and lighting; a safer, more efficient campus traffic flow; new outdoor learning environments and play spaces; and ADA-compliant pedestrian pathways throughout the campus, to name a few. The project design emphasizes the creation of learning spaces that are inspired by the district’s rich Onteora history and the surrounding Catskills.
A central campus also brings all staff together in one location, increasing efficiency by reducing travel time between buildings — which also increases availability to better serve students. In addition, the project includes designated areas for faculty and staff to collaborate, work independently and connect virtually.
“The most important asset within our school system is our faculty and staff,” added McLaren. “The logistics of an intentionally designed central campus will foster tremendous opportunities for sharing, collaborating, and deepening connections with one another and with our students.”
Designing a campus that could serve as a hub for the community was also a priority. Considerations for families who could use the playgrounds and proposed park-like outdoor spaces to connect with nature, or use the track and field to pursue healthy endeavors, were just a few features for community use included in the proposed design.
The district has strategically structured the $70.5 million project so it can be funded without increasing the tax levy. First, the district will apply $15 million saved in a voter approved capital reserve and cash on hand, reducing the level of borrowing needed to fund the project and saving on interest costs. The district will then borrow $55.5 million in increments, as needed, to be repaid over 20 years, starting in 2028. By combining approximately $1.3 million a year in anticipated state aid revenue over the course of repayment with more than $3 million in annual savings generated through the efficiencies of a central campus, the debt payments can be covered without increasing the tax levy.
“The cost savings associated with the transportation, staffing and building maintenance efficiencies created by moving to a central campus will compound and continue to grow to help offset future budget increases,” said assistant superintendent for business Monica LaClair.
Although the project’s vision is deeply rooted in optimizing Onteora for educational excellence, potential changes to the New York State Foundation Aid formula and possible reductions in federal funding have made the timing of this project critical, according to McLaren.
“We’ve planned a project that allows us to bring all of our students together onto a modernized campus in a very thoughtful and planned manner,” she said. “We don’t want to be in a position in the future where we have to make a reactive decision to close Woodstock Elementary School without the benefits of a capital project plan designed with the voices of diverse stakeholder groups.”
Polls will be open at Woodstock and Bennett Elementary Schools on Tuesday, May 20, from 2 to 9 p.m. Qualified voters can find applications to vote by absentee or early mail ballot on the district’s website at www.onteora.k12.ny.us/optimize.
Additional details about the project and the history of how the district decided to pursue a central campus are also available online. Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the district at optimizing@onteora.k12.ny.us.
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