The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District will be approaching its five-year plan for updating infrastructure and developing a bond referendum by making the process a two-committee affair.
As the proposal stands now, a critical infrastructure needs committee would meet during the months of October and December to narrow down and develop cost information on the projects the district will pursue. That committee would be expanded to create a `bond referendum committee` that would prioritize the district’s needs and report to the Board of Education in June.
The system was discussed at a Tuesday, Sept. 23, meeting of the Board of Education, where Assistant Superintendent for Support Service Jacqueline St. Onge outlined a number of areas where infrastructure improvements are needed.
Though it will be up to the committees and board to make selections, she identified projects like a new boiler for Stevens Elementary, as well as roofing, window replacement and repaving across the district as candidates.
Major renovations could include an expansion to the district’s transportation facility at an estimated cost of $6.75 million; adding six classrooms for approximately $3.2 million; and replacing the `aging` district phone system for $650,000.
Onge noted that the figures are just best guesses, especially considering that he cost of materials has, in many cases, been climbing steadily.
The district identified a number of other renovations deemed `critical maintenance` items, such as track resurfacing, septic systems, the replacement of exterior doors, gym floor replacement in Stevens and HVAC systems in all school except Pashley. Many of the improvements address energy-saving methods or health and safety concerns, as those are good ways to ensure grant funds.
Similarly, making improvements to buildings rather than constructing new ones brings greater aid. Seventy-seven to 80 percent of the cost of renovations generally comes back to the district, while for new construction, the figure is much lower.
A bond for the projects would be put to an October 2009 public referendum, and the board discussed the possibility of a $30 million bond, which is a tentative figure, to be paid off over 15 years. Such a scenario would present $716,000 per year in interest that would result in a one-time 2 percent tax increase.
Those numbers can fluctuate, however, and the actual bond will depend on what projects the district decides to pursue. The five-year renovation plan budget has increased in size with every iteration since its 1978, $870,000 introduction. In 2003, just under $16 million was appropriated. The coming bond was already pushed back from 2008.
According to district spokeswoman Christy Multer, changes in the state aid rules would make it difficult for the district to finance projects out of pocket. `We’ve been fortunate in that up to now we’ve been able to do most of our renovations by phasing in new debt as old debt was retired,` she said. Especially when considering a possible property tax cap, however, that scenario is unlikely.
The board discussed how the district approaches infrastructure improvement in general.
`These bonds are really an opportunity to do a good job somewhere,` said board member Timothy Kelliher, but he added that the district can’t fix everything across the board. `I would much rather see us do fewer projects that are first-class projects than sprinkle it around and get a so-so result.`
The Board of Education also reviewed the current year’s class size statistics at their Sept. 23 meeting. 2008-2009 enrollment is consistent with last year’s numbers.
There was some concern about the third-grade class size at Stevens Elementary. At 102 students, it is larger than the third grades at Charlton Heights or Pashley, which have 87 and 52 pupils, respectively. Accordingly, the class sizes in the third grade are slightly larger at Stevens, and some staff was added.
Several board members brought up the idea of presenting households near the border of Pashley and Stevens the opportunity to switch schools next year to help even out the difference.
Board Member Elizabeth Hirkenham suggested that multi-age classrooms be considered in the future to help even out class sizes as the large third grade moves toward the middle and high schools.
Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Richard Evans, who had met with Stevens teachers earlier in the day, said that while such measures are generally considered extreme, they might be necessary.
`You don’t do it unless you have to, but we’re heading into that situation,` he said.
It was agreed by all that a more long-term solution should be examined for the future, perhaps by capping kindergarten enrollment at Stevens in the future.“