Depew board moves to place $9 million capital-improvement proposition on May ballot after building-condition survey

The Depew Union Free School District Board of Education on March 18 approved contract actions and voted to place a $9,000,000 capital-improvement proposition before district voters in May following a presentation of a recently completed building condition survey.

The survey, prepared for the district by Young and Wright (presented at the meeting by a representative identified as Steve), found broad facility needs across the district and was cited by the board as the primary driver of the proposed May project. "The numbers are gonna come off as a little bit high," Steve said, noting the district had a nine-year gap between surveys that helped increase estimated costs.

District officials said the proposed project combines high-priority items that were not completed in the 2021 capital project because of rising costs and includes resurfacing the track, bathroom renovations, replacement of the bus garage roof, pool system work, parking-lot and site-lighting work, and creation of a family support center at Cuba Heights by converting underused cafeteria space. The district also noted upgrades to high-school technology spaces and security vestibules were recently completed or underway under earlier work.

The board approved a resolution directing the district to submit the proposition to voters at the district's annual meeting and vote. The resolution sets an estimated maximum cost of $9,000,000 and directs inclusion of the proposition in the district notice of annual meeting and vote. The board also approved awarding capital-project-related contracts and authorized Young and Wright Architecture to issue notices to proceed to selected contractors.

Board and staff discussed how the building condition survey differs from the state's minimal report: Young and Wright said their report reviews many more categories and breaks out systems by type and era to help the district track history and warranties. The presenter told trustees the survey report shows roughly $148,000,000 in total items when every individual record is summed but cautioned that figure contains duplication (for example, separate line items for floors and for whole-room renovations) and does not include soft costs, contingencies or escalation beyond the report's 2024 price basis. The presenter also highlighted an intermediate summary by remaining useful life that showed about $91,000,000 of items in the 5-year-plus band under the report's accounting.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Raby said the survey is a useful planning tool. "Having the survey done is really exciting," Dr. Raby told the board, and district staff said the May proposition is intended as a first step toward a longer-term 10-year plan for larger work they expect to consider in future cycles.

The district provided a tax-impact example in public materials and at the meeting: for a $100,000 assessed home, officials estimated a local share tax increase of about $12.15 in Cheektowaga and $13.50 in Lancaster for the proposed bond amount as presented at the meeting; the presentation also showed the district share allocation (approximately 70.38% Cheektowaga, 29.62% Lancaster) used in those calculations.

What the board approved (votes at a glance): the board voted by voice to (1) award capital-project contracts and authorize Young and Wright Architecture to prepare and issue notices to proceed to contractors and (2) adopt a resolution calling for submission of the $9,000,000 capital-improvement proposition to voters in May. All three motions were carried by voice vote at the meeting.

The district noted the building condition survey is state-mandated and is normally on a five-year rolling schedule; Depew's 2015-to-2024 interval was longer than typical, which staff and the presenter said contributed to higher estimated costs. Staff said more detailed records and the district's copy of the full report will be made available to administrators and board members to assist with long-term planning.

The board scheduled the public vote for the proposition as part of the district's annual meeting and indicated design work would proceed in summer if the project moves forward, with State Education Department review planned for late 2025 and construction to start approximately one year later if approved.

Votes at a glance

- Motion: Authorize Young and Wright Architecture to prepare and send notices to proceed to construction firms for capital project contracts (contractors named during the meeting). Outcome: Approved by voice vote. Notes: Motion carried; mover/second not specified in the public record excerpt.

- Motion: Adopt resolution calling for submission to voters of a capital-improvement proposition at an estimated maximum cost of $9,000,000 (dated 03/18/2025). Outcome: Approved by voice vote. Notes: Motion carried; mover/second not specified.

Ending: The May proposition, if approved by voters, would fund the scope presented and serve as the first step in a multiyear facilities plan the district says will address remaining high-priority needs identified in the survey.