FAA committee previews $110 million capital-improvement plan; March 25 public vote scheduled

Members of the district’s facilities and finance committees presented an overview of a proposed $110 million capital-improvement project and told the Board of Education that public hearings and a public vote are scheduled ahead of a March 25 referendum.

A committee representative summarized building priorities and the project’s guiding theme: “warm, safe and dry.” The presentation listed mechanical upgrades for older systems, security vestibules for multiple elementary schools, and building-specific priority work. Committee members said the district’s capital reserves and flexibility in the financing plan keep the proposal at “no tax increase” for taxpayers. The committee also discussed that state building aid does not cover repairs to existing systems, meaning some maintenance or replacement work on older equipment is not eligible for aid.

The committee noted that the district will present the plan to the board in a public session on Jan. 21 and hold two public hearings: Feb. 25 and March 4, with the March 25 district vote timed to coincide with the district’s Music in Our Schools event.

Superintendent Larry C. Schmiedel also reported coordination with county and city officials on mitigation projects and that FEMA cost-estimate submissions were due Jan. 17. He said staff are meeting with FEMA and state emergency services to pursue eligible post-storm mitigation funding and to coordinate county, city and district repairs where possible.

The board did not vote on the capital project at the meeting; the committee asked the community to mark March 25 on calendars and said a full public presentation will be made to the board on Jan. 21.