Safety, security top priorities

Chittenango School District has a host of safety and security updates it has brought to the table for local residents to vote on in the coming months.

The district held an informational meeting Feb. 12 to go over the list of installations. The proposal calls for a new transportation building, an addition to Bolivar Elementary, and new surveillance

CHITTENANGO >>

and communications systems for all the buildings. Throughout the district, the $ 11.8 million capital building project will also replace boilers, drinking fountains, water systems, roofs, and the high school track. Hunt, an engineering firm from Horseheads, N. Y., will be heading the project.

A big aspect of the project is that it will have no impact on the tax rate, said Superintendant Michael Schiedo.

One of largest portions of the project is a new transportation fa- cility, which will be built on a plot of land across New Boston Road from the current facility.

The old transportation building was built in 1960, and according to Schiedo it would cost the district just shy of $ 3 million to repair and make handicap accessible. The new building will take a $ 4.8 million chunk out the $ 11.8 million capital building budget but will save the district money in the long run. The new facility will feature better entrances and create less of a traffic hazard compared to the old facility.

Another major piece of the project is the addition to Bolivar Elementary. Although it is still in its conceptual phase, the addition will most likely house four new kindergarten classrooms. Representatives from Hunt said that throughout the design phase, members of the community and faculty will be consulted for ideas and plans for the new buildings.

About 90 percent of the funding comes from state aid. The rest comes from the capital reserve fund created by Chittenango district vot- ers for projects similar to this. If the proposal is not submitted within the next few months, the project would lose 10 percent of that state aid, which is incentive aid earmarked specifically for security upgrades.

“The timing and funding is perfect to do a project like this,” Schiedo said. “We are trying to make sure the district maintains a safe and healthy environment for our students, staff and community.”

The project will be put to a vote on May 21 in the middle school cafeteria.