AuSable Valley looks to upgrade educational facilities

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October 19, 2007

Aid paying bill, superintendent says

By STEPHEN BARTLETT The Press Republican Fri Oct 19, 2007, 12:00 AM EDT

CLINTONVILLE -- AuSable Valley Central School officials hope voters approve a capital project that will take the district into the next 30-plus years.

On Nov. 14, they are putting before voters a project that would not cost taxpayers any extra money. The nearly $30 million project would be covered by traditional state aid and EXCEL aid, which is exclusively designed to offset the taxpayers' portion of capital-project construction costs.

"We have an obligation to put this out there," said Superintendent Paul Savage. "For us not to act on this aid out there would be short-sighted."

SPECIAL FUNDS

Last year, the School District received $1,032,697 from the state in its final budget.

"At the time, most districts didn't know what that was," Savage said. "It was listed as EXCEL funding."

He learned the money was targeted to address major areas within capital projects, such as educational technology, health and safety, accessibility, physical capacity and energy efficiency.

"The aid is set up to offset the taxpayer portion of the project."

Savage said it was important for school officials, in reviewing potential capital projects, to form a proposal that would meet the needs of taxpayers and have no tax impact in terms of construction costs.

"We were very fortunate to get this, and it is an opportunity to make some improvements."

The project totals $29,850,000, of which an estimated $28,817,303 will be covered by traditional state aid and the remaining $1,032,697 by EXCEL aid.

AUSABLE FORKS SCHOOL

At AuSable Forks Elementary School, project work includes additional classrooms for pre-K and special education, a new stage, health and safety items, new gym seating and scoreboard, security upgrades, classroom renovations, emergency generators, technology upgrades, improved parent dropoff, library renovations with natural lighting, kitchen upgrades, floor finish upgrades and mechanical and electrical upgrades.

"We are looking at universal pre-K programs and special-education programs and need space," Savage said. "We are just strapped."

KEESEVILLE ELEMENTARY

Work at Keeseville Elementary School includes additional classrooms for pre-K and special education, kitchen and serving reorganization, health and safety items, new gym seating and scoreboard, additional faculty toilet facility, new wood-chip boiler, new generator, technology and security upgrades and improved bus exiting.

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

The majority of work would occur at the Middle/High School and includes construction of additional classrooms, a new stair tower to eliminate a dead-end corridor, reconstruction of cafeteria, fitness center enlargement, health classroom reconstruction, library reconstruction with natural lighting, multi-purpose special testing room, replacement of corridor floor finishes, asbestos abatement and security upgrades.

Other work scheduled for the facility includes connecting settled floor in pool corridor, reconstructing deteriorated exterior walks and ramp, adding a new wood chip boiler and generator, upgrading the home and careers room, providing handicapped lift for auditorium stage, health and safety items, technology upgrades and more.

ENERGY SAVINGS

"We've had a lot of improvements to our buildings in the outside areas, but the inside needs changes," Savage said. "There is not a lot of room for expansion for us."

Savage said there will be additional energy costs associated with heat and electric of about $35,000 yearly, but at the same time there will be significant energy savings because of some of the changes. In all, the School District estimates to see around $149,700 in energy savings yearly.

"Over a quarter of the actual project is for energy savings," Savage said.

A public meeting and the vote are both scheduled for November.

"We hope voters support what we are looking at and that these changes are important and will take our district into the next 30-plus year," Savage said.

sbartlett@pressrepublican.com