Facebook

Medina school district puts $34.3 million capital project up to vote on Feb. 14

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 January 2023 at 11:57 am

District seeks upgrades at 3 school buildings, plus bus garage

Conceptual renderings from Medina Central School: This shows a proposed new media center in the Oak Orchard Primary School.

MEDINA – The school district will seek the community’s approval on Feb. 14 for a $34,357,277 project that includes significant work at the three school buildings, plus the bus garage.

There won’t be any new taxes as part of the capital project. District officials said the cost will be covered through $29,895,213 from state building aid (87 percent of the total cost), $2,750,000 from capital reserve and $1,712,064 by retiring debt service payments, resulting in a “tax neutral” financing plan, district superintendent Dr. Mark Kruzynski said in a letter to the community on the district website.

“Major reconstruction and mechanical upgrades for our aging pool were identified among our most critical asset preservation needs,” Kruzynski said in his letter. “In addition, key educational program goals of this project include renovations to our music, technology, and STEAM spaces. The project will also address important safety and security improvements at all school entrance vestibules and main offices. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of our intercampus roadways, parking areas, and bus loops will further improve safety and circulation for parents, students, and staff.”

Doing the projects as part of a capital plan will make the district eligible for state aid, covering the majority of the costs. If the project is voted down, Medina would still need to proceed with some of the “critical safety requirements and building preservation needs,” Kruzynski said. However, not doing the work in a capital project would put the full cost on district taxpayers, he said.

There will be a public information meeting on Monday, Feb. 6, at 6:30 p.m. at the junior-senior high school auditorium. The vote will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Feb. 14 in the district office board room.

Eligible voters must be at least 18 and a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

Here is a breakdown of the capital project:

Junior/Senior High School – $17,324,760

  • Reconstruct secure entrance vestibule
  • Reconstruct Main Office including lock-down security notification
  • New Choral Room (including new office and practice rooms)
  • New Band Room addition (including new offices, practice rooms, and storage)
  • New Music Storage Room with stage access
  • Replace stage curtains and add stage outlets
  • New STEAM Classroom
  • New Technology Computer Lab
  • New Technology Wood Shop addition (including exterior dust collector system)
  • New Greenhouse addition
  • New first-floor connector link to provide access to new classrooms
  • New first-floor classrooms at former District Office
  • New 8’ wide corridor including new single ADA-compliant toilet rooms
  • New first-floor boys’ and girls’ toilet rooms
  • New second-floor boys’ and girls’ toilet rooms
  • Reconstruct existing roadways and parking areas
  • New shared bus arrival/dismissal parking area for Jr/Sr High School and Intermediate School

This shows a proposed new band room in the junior-senior high school.

Clifford H. Wise Intermediate – $9,769,533

  • Reconstruct secure entrance vestibule
  • Reconstruct Main Office including lock-down security notification
  • Reconstruct existing Pool (including pool tank, gutter, deck, mechanical equipment, and lighting)
  • Reglaze and reseal windows with failed seals
  • Reconstruct select mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems throughout the building, including generator replacement, panel board replacement, sanitary piping replacement, sump pump replacement and crawlspace drainage improvements
  • Reconstruct existing roadways and parking areas: reconstruct existing exit onto Gwinn Street and expanded parking and roadway configuration

Oak Orchard Primary School – $6,198,091

  • Reconstruct secure entrance vestibule
  • Reconstruct Main Office including lock-down security notification
  • New District Office in former Media Center
  • Reconstruct Girls’ Locker Room to provide ADA-compliant toilets adjacent to Cafeteria and Gymnasium
  • New Media Center
  • New Computer Lab
  • Reconstruct select mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems throughout the building, including panel board replacement, sanitary piping replacement and rawlspace drainage improvements
  • Reconstruct existing roadways and parking areas
  • New parking lot at relocated District Office
  • Bus loop paving restoration

Bus Garage – $1,064,893

  • Roof replacement
  • New staff parking area

If the project is approved by voters, the school district will work on final designs to be submitted to the State Education Department this fall, with SED approval expected in early 2024. The project would then go out to bid with the bulk of construction expected to start in summer 2024, according to a timeline from the district. Medina school leaders anticipate the entire project would be completed in early 2026.