Kendall approves $14.97 million capital project
KENDALL – District residents approved the school budget and also a $14.97 million capital project.
The $17,367,477 budget passed, 155 to 34. The budget reduces spending and doesn’t increase taxes. It also includes $100,000 for a school resource officer. Kendall will keep its security staff and wants to have a deputy from the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office devoted to the school.
The capital project was backed 145 to 43. Kendall school leaders say they already have the local share for the work in a capital reserve fund so there wouldn’t be a local tax increase.
The project follows a series of other improvements at the district campus in recent years. The scope of the new capital project includes:
• Proposed improvements to the Elementary School include improving ventilation on the second floor of the quad and auditorium; renovation of the multi-purpose room for technology, agriculture and consumer science programs; replacement of the original gym bleachers and the gym floor, renovation of locker rooms, and a re-design of the cafeteria and serving line.
• Improvements proposed for the Jr./Sr. High School include renovation of the art, technology and music rooms which would address accessibility, storage and ventilation; replacement of gym floors and bleachers; renovation of the girls’ locker room; renovation of music practice rooms; renovation of the lavatory in the arts hall; update of the public access system; ventilation in the office and gym; improving light and sound and providing fly space for set productions in the auditorium; addition of a vestibule at the entrance to the art and music wing.
• Site improvements could include lighting and traffic flow at the Elementary School front loop; improvement of traffic flow at the Jr./Sr. High School bus loop; drainage in the athletic fields, addition of bathrooms and storage by the track and sidewalks from the High School cafe to the tennis courts.
• The bus garage is in need of roof repairs, an update to the fuel system and outside lighting as well as improvements to the water line. The old bus garage behind the Elementary School is in need of replacement windows and doors, Julie Christensen, district superintendent, said at a January community meeting about the project.
Construction could begin in 2019 and be completed by 2020.
• Voters also gave approval, 159 to 31, to spend up to $250,000 from the School Bus Reserve Fund for transportation vehicles.
• Jason ReQua was the lone candidate running for a five-year term on the Board of Education. He received 179 votes.
