The Iroquois Central School District Board of Education approved the consent agenda, which included beginning the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process for a proposed $23 million capital project to replace aging boilers and roofs in multiple buildings.
John, a district staff member, told the board the proposal stems from a building condition survey that prioritized urgent systems work; the package — described in district materials as the "warm and dry" project — targets boilers in older buildings, roof replacements and roof drainage improvements, and potential electrical-system upgrades at the high school if bids leave funds available.
Administrators said the local share of the project would be financed from district capital reserves and that state building aid would fund the remainder, producing no direct tax increase if the project proceeds as planned. John said the SEQR resolution on the consent agenda included a negative declaration, indicating staff and counsel identified no likely adverse environmental impacts in the initial review; the board approved the consent agenda that included that item.
John described the project’s roughly $23 million budget as an estimate that includes contingencies and escalation for work that likely will occur over the next several years. Board members asked for top-line updates on final bid levels and noted that if bids come in above the project cap the district must either change the scope or rebid; John said the district cannot legally spend more than the approved $23 million without a separate action.
Board members also discussed how leftover funds from favorable bids in prior projects were used for additional parking-lot and infrastructure repairs, and asked staff to post information about the project on the district website ahead of the public vote planned for November. Administrators said formal voter authorization procedures will follow state requirements and that the board would receive monthly updates on the project through superintendent reports.
The consent agenda approving items 10.01 through 17.16 (which included the SEQR action) carried by recorded vote, with five board members voting in favor, none opposed and one abstention.