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Superintendent unveils $30 million capital plan, cites unsafe bus garage; community vote set for Dec. 17
Summary
Superintendent Michael presented a $30 million capital improvement proposal that would rebuild the district transportation facility, update building systems and prioritize safety; Michael said $7 million from the district capital reserve would cover part of the cost and the plan would go to a community vote on Dec. 17 with no anticipated tax increase.
Superintendent Michael told the North Rose‑Wolcott Central School District board that the district will put a $30 million capital improvement project before voters on Dec. 17 to address long‑deferred building and infrastructure needs.
The plan focuses on a new transportation facility and other building upgrades identified in a 2022 building condition survey that estimated about $92 million in total needs. Michael said the current bus garage is undersized and unsafe — citing failed roofs, failing mortar, cramped wash bays with roughly 40–50 inches of clearance in places, and incidents of buses colliding in the parking area. “You start to see the mortar joints are failing,” he said, describing condensate leaking into the wash‑bay floor and narrow circulation that forces drivers to walk through the shop to reach restrooms.
Michael outlined design features for a new facility — multiple service bays, a contained wash bay, a training room, expanded office and restroom space, and space for fueling and materials — and said the district would demolish the current garage, reconfigure the bus loop and improve parent pickup and parking. He said the project would also address needs across the elementary and high school (science wing upgrades, cafeteria/kitchen expansion, HVAC/air conditioning completion, elevator/cab replacement) and would allow fifth grade to return to the elementary when space permits.
Funding and timeline: Michael said the district has about $7 million in its capital reserve proposed toward the package and described that local funds could come from that reserve “with a 0% tax rate increase to our community.” If voters approve the proposition on Dec. 17, Michael said the district would work through design, State Education approvals and bidding in 2026, with construction potentially beginning later and a target completion around 2028 based on extended current timelines.
Electrification and county coordination: Board members asked whether the new garage would accommodate electric buses. Michael said renderings factor extra width for buses with side‑mounted battery trays but added that the district does not plan an immediate switch to an electric fleet; instead, it intends to apply for waivers or two two‑year extensions tied to the state’s 2035 electrification mandate while monitoring technology and grid capacity. He also said the district has discussed the project with Wayne County and local town supervisors and that county water‑line routing adjustments could align with the transportation facility relocation.
Why it matters: The proposal would rewrite how the district stores and services its fleet, resolve documented safety and functional problems in the existing transportation facility, and fund multiple improvements across district buildings. The board will hold an open house the Monday before the community vote to show the bus garage and explain project choices.
