On Tuesday, May 17, district residents will vote to approve a proposed $9,082,558 Capital Improvement Project to address HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) upgrades and roof renovations at the Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School. This project will be listed as a separate proposition during the annual Budget Vote and Board of Education elections.
The project will be fully funded using federal aid and district reserves — no additional borrowing is necessary to fund these projects.
Why are these projects necessary?
Simply put, the aging HVAC systems and roof at Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School are becoming detrimental to our youngest students’ learning experience. Poor indoor air quality, thermal discomfort, background noises and water damage are hindering our students’ ability to learn — and our teachers’ ability to teach – in an environment that is comfortable, productive and safe.
Temperatures are inconsistent throughout the building, uneven from classroom to classroom, and students often feel either too hot or too cold, no matter the time of year. Indoor air quality isn’t up to today’s standards, and airborne pollutants may aggravate allergies and promote coughing or eye irritation. Additionally, the aging HVAC units are often noisy and distracting. Because approximately 75% of the unit ventilators at Scotchtown Avenue are 41-50 years old, it is becoming more difficult to find the necessary parts needed for repairs.
In addition to addressing heating and cooling at Scotchtown Avenue, the Capital Improvement Project will provide repairs to the school’s 30 year-old roof. Although the school’s maintenance staff works diligently to repair leaks, replace ceiling tiles and install patches, the amount of repairs related to leaks and water damage is superseding their efforts.
How will the projects be funded?
It’s important to note that the project will be fully funded via federal aid and district capital reserve funds. Therefore, the district is not asking for additional borrowing from taxpayers.
The project will be fully funded by:
- $4,082,558 in federal funding via the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) and the Coronavirus Relief and Response Supplemental Act (CRRSA)
- $5,000,000 currently in district capital reserve funds.
If the proposal is approved by voters, the capital project will be competitively bid. If the bids come in lower than expected, the district plans to apply any excess funding to repair the roof at Goshen Intermediate School.