Board approves placing Capital Project before voters Dec. 10

On Thursday, October 24, the Warwick Valley Board of Education approved putting the 2024 Capital Project referendum before voters on December 10. Voters will have the opportunity to cast ballots at three locations – the former Pine Island Elementary School building, the Dorothy C. Wilson Education Center, and the former Kings Elementary School building between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The $19.5 million capital project proposal for the Warwick Valley Central School District will be tax neutral, meaning the district would not need to raise additional tax revenue to support the large-scale improvement project.

A public hearing will be scheduled for December 2 at the Education Center.

The district has taken a strategic approach over the years, consistently improving its facilities and grounds without increasing the tax burden on residents. This effort focuses on updating outdated electrical, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as replacing windows and roofs that have reached the end of their lifespan. The timing is crucial, as the district is retiring debt and leveraging state building aid and its reserves to fund these improvements.

The 2024 Capital Project would also assign $550,000 to safety measures as the district continues to improve the security of its buildings. In addition to the $550,000, the district will add $500,000 from its general fund and receive $500,000 back in New York State SAFE Act funding. The $1,050,000 will be used to harden 100 exterior doors at the high school and middle school. Door improvements will include security devices, bullet-resistant glass and window film.

In addition to the security measures, below is a breakdown of other project areas:

• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning at the high school will cost an estimated $2,100,000. The project will provide air conditioning in the gym for both athletes and spectators, especially for events like graduation when it is moved inside because of weather. The air conditioning will replace old and ineffective unit ventilators that do not provide air conditioning. Also, air conditioning units will replace unit ventilators in approximately 10-12 classrooms in the old junior high wing. When complete, approximately 98% of the building will be air conditioned.
• Windows at Park Avenue and the high school will cost an estimated $2,100,000. This project would complete window work at Park Avenue. Windows in front of the 1929 portion of the building were replaced recently. This project replaces windows in the back of the original building. It also replaces failing windows in the 1991 wing of the building that have issues such as broken seals, not opening easily or are not energy efficient. Windows in a portion of the high school will be replaced as part of an ongoing project.
• In addition, the replacement of bleachers with safety concerns and mechanical parts failures at the high school and the middle school will cost $1,250,000. These improvements have been included in past capital projects, but the district has needed to defer them to a later capital project and are now a priority.
• Replacing main plumbing lines at Sanfordville. These main plumbing lines are used for both heating and air conditioning throughout the building. The entry pipe and main pipes to Park Avenue, which have been repaired but now need to be replaced. These projects will cost $1,200,000.
• Electrical improvements at the high school will cost $1,000,000. The main electrical panel at the high school – original to the building when it was built in the 1950s – is at capacity for the building and needs to be replaced. Installing new air conditioning will require a new panel to handle the additional electrical needs.
• Replacing damaged sidewalks in various locations in the district will cost $135,000.