Guilderland Central School District residents will head to the polls again on Thursday, Nov. 14, just over a week after Election Day to decide two building project propositions totaling $18.17 million. However, at a recent community meeting discussing the proposals, only a handful of community members turned out to ask questions.
About 25 people attended the Tuesday, Oct. 29, informational meeting, but a majority were board of education members, facilities committee members and other school officials. Several district officials and the project’s architectural firm were on hand to answer questions after a presentation providing an overview of the facilities improvement plan.
The first building project proposal totals more than $17.3 million and includes building infrastructure renovations ($14 million), safety and security improvements ($1.5 million) and instructional technology upgrades ($1.8 million). The second recommendation of around $845,000 tackled high school auditorium renovations and replacing the high school football field light pole.
“Where you will see most of the dollars tied up in this project is the replacement of building components that are a safety concern, or are at or near the end of their useful life, or a detriment to the efficient and economical operation of a building,” Superintendent of Schools Marie Wiles said. “We don’t want things that are close to the end of their life to fail and put us in a position where we need to do emergency repairs that will, in fact, disrupt what happens each and every day during our school year.”
The first proposition would result in an annual tax increase of $65 for a home in the Town of Guilderland assessed at $246,500, the median value. The second proposition would likewise result in an annual tax increase of $3 to the same home.
The second and smaller proposal is contingent upon the first proposition being approved by voters. The first proposal doesn’t require the second to be approved.
Wiles said the committee decided to separate the two proposals because the bigger project “best captured” needed facility improvements. She said the committee was concerned some voters would see the second proposal as more “frivolous,” but she considers that designation “a stretch.”
Lori Hershenhart, instructional administrator for music, said the proposed improvements at the high school auditorium were needed because it’s used as a classroom during about half of the school day and is used “extensively.”
Hershenhart said the auditorium lighting is poor, requiring students to come on the stage to read any materials, and the sound system is in need of improvements.
Athletic Director Regan Johnson said replacing the light pole at the high school football field is important for safety.
“I know that the wind blows constantly here,” Johnson said. “Especially on the football field, when the wind blows, I know where I am standing just in case.”
The wooden light pole was installed in 1986, he said, and the wood also attracts various insects and pests requiring it to be sprayed. The new poles would be metal and mounted in concrete, and the light fixtures would be replaced.
Few questions asked
Wiles called the turnout at the meeting “stunningly low,” said she was not sure why it was sparsely attended.
“We have mentioned it at every board meeting. We have sent out SNNs, it is on our website. It is the front page of our newsletter that just hit homes this past weekend,” Wiles said. “I know people are busy. … The more important thing is that people come out (to vote).”
Wiles said there probably were not “a lot of burning questions” about the improvement projects, or anything “tremendously controversial.” She described the upgrades and renovations as a “very nuts and bolts” project.
“All these things are things that I think your average homeowners would understand,” Wiles said. “I think the nature of the things we are doing kind of resonate with folks in that respect.”
She said if people were “worried, concerned or angry” there likely would have been a bigger turnout.
There is a section of the district’s website devoted to the project referendums with information on the project. A video of the Oct. 29 meeting is posted, along with the presentation slides, and the facilities committee’s complete report to the board is posted.
Voters can request an absentee ballot be mailed to them by calling Linda Livingston at 456-6200, ext. 3125, or an absentee ballot can be downloaded from the district’s website. The district office must receive completed absentee ballots on Thursday, Nov. 7, if mailed to the voter, or the day before the vote if the ballot given to the voter in-person at the district office.
Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, and residents vote at their local elementary school.