Ballston Spa superintendent outlines district priorities, $61.8 million capital project set for Dec. 9 referendum

Superintendent Dr. Duca told the Ballston Spa Central School District Board of Education on Sept. 17 that the district’s six priorities and a proposed $61,813,000 capital project — to be placed before voters in a Dec. 9 public referendum — would focus on building infrastructure, instructional spaces and athletics.

The proposal covers upgrades at the high school, middle school and elementary buildings, including auditorium and media‑center renovations, expanded career and technical education (CTE) space, new chillers and cooling towers, expanded fitness facilities and athletic‑field improvements. The superintendent said the district is using about $7.8 million from its capital reserve to reduce borrowing and estimated the average $390,000 single‑family home in the district would pay about $87.46 per year after state aid, as presented to the board.

Why it matters: The project would replace aging mechanical systems and address classroom and commons spaces used daily by students and community groups. Officials said the work would also increase capacity for CTE and performing‑arts programs and add turf and lighting at athletic fields that the district said are heavily used by students and outside organizations.

Dr. Duca opened the presentation by framing district work around six priorities: family and community engagement; multi‑tiered systems of support (MTSS); reducing chronic…