Kendall to propose $14.5 million capital project at school district

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 11 January 2018 at 10:49 am

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: Kendall School District Superintendent Julie Christensen describes projects that might be included in the district’s next capital improvement project during a public forum on Wednesday evening.

KENDALL – A public forum at Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Wednesday evening gave residents and district staff and officials a first look at a proposed $14.5 million capital improvement project.

The cost of the project would be covered by a voter approved reserve fund and New York State Building Aid.

“There would be no impact on local taxes,” said District Superintendent Julie Christensen.

The project would be “a continuation of work we began years ago,” she said. The proposed project would include work that wasn’t covered during the last capital project, as well as, “things we noticed as we went through that work.”

The project would include addressing health, safety and code issues as well as preservation of infrastructure and enhancement of the instructional environment.

• 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 o 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 might include improving 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, Christensen said.

She provided a timetable for the project which includes adoption by the Board of Education in February and a community vote referendum in May. If approved by district voters, the construction could begin in 2019 and be completed by 2020.

Detailed plans and design work will not begin until after the project is approved, Christensen said. She welcomed additional suggestions from faculty, staff and community members.

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