Albion votes today on $26.69 million capital project at school district

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 December 2021 at 9:13 am

ALBION – Eligible district residents 18 and older will vote today on a $26.69 million capital project that includes all three schools, as well as the bus garage, and new synthetic playing surfaces for football, soccer and softball.

Residents can vote from noon to 8:30 p.m. at the District Office Conference Room A which is in the back of the elementary school.

District officials say there won’t be an additional tax impact from the project because the local share of $7,195,000 is already in a capital reserve. State funding at $19,495,000 will cover the rest.

The project was identified following a building conditions survey required every five years by the state. King & King Architects of Syracuse worked with the district on putting together the project. Kirk Narburgh, King & King CEO, is an Albion graduate and led a discussion about the project during a public hearing on Dec. 2 in the middle school auditoirium.

The scope of the project includes:

Elementary School – $6,300,000

  • Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
  • Refinish main gym floor and replace folding partitions with divider curtains
  • Reconfigure entry vestibule and finish renovations to the district office
  • Replace plumbing fixtures and domestic hot/cold water, sanitary and storm piping in 1955 building
  • Mechanical upgrades, including original building wing unit ventilators
  • Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
  • Sidewalk replacements
  • East side drop-off loop improvements

Kirk Narburgh, CEO of King & King, goes over the capital project during a public hearing on Dec. 2. Here he is highlighting synthetic fields for football, soccer and softball, which he said will allow teams to be outside on the surfaces sooner in the season. Physical education classes could also use the fields, and they could be opened to the community for some activities as well.

Middle School – $9,945,000

  • Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
  • Gymnasium renovations, including gym floor refinishing, lift replacement, new wall pads, ceiling and lighting
  • Renovate pool lockers shower areas, including plumbing and lighting
  • Replace auditorium air-conditioning
  • Provide parallel pool pump and replace hot water heaters and storage tank
  • Mechanical upgrades for electrical room/transformer vault
  • Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
  • Reconfigure parent drop-off loop. (Traffic often currently backs up to Route 31 due to long lines. Albion would reconfigure the loop to allow for more staging of vehicles.)
  • Renovate playground
  • New multi-purpose field surface at soccer/softball complex

High School – $9,795,000

  • Security enhancements to include safety films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware, communication/notification systems
  • Gymnasium renovations, including gym floor replacement, re-surfaced folding partitions, bleacher replacement, ceiling/lighting, ventilation system and new wall-mounted scoreboards
  • Renovate locker rooms
  • Replace corridor lockers
  • Replace hot water heaters, add additional boiler and replace heating line
  • Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade building system controls, panel board and switchgear
  • Improve sidewalks for accessibility
  • Tennis court reconstruction
  • New multi-purpose field surface at football stadium complex

Bus Garage – $650,000

  • Security enhancements to include security films, access controls, exterior/interior door replacements/hardware
  • Replace large overhead doors in 1997 maintenance bay addition
  • Replace roof in 1997 maintenance bay addition
  • Integrate carbon monoxide monitoring and upgrade panel board
  • Extend paving at bus parking and dumpster pad

Campus Notification System

In addition to the renovations being proposed in the capital project referendum, Albion Central School District is planning to install a new public address and visual notification system for the elementary, middle and high schools. This work may be separate from the capital project and would be paid for using $1,995,000 in funding available to our district through the Smart Schools Bond Act of 2014.

A timeline for the project includes:

Dec. 14: Project vote, noon to 8:30 p.m., District Office Conference Room A

January 2022 to August 2022: Design Phase

September 2022 to December 2022: SED Review

2023 to 2024: Construction