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Board hears $19.95 million capital-project proposal; vote set for Jan. 15, 2025
Summary
Board members reviewed a proposed capital project book that would fund infrastructure, security and classroom upgrades; the district is targeting a Jan. 15, 2025 referendum and expects high New York State aid but said exact scope will be refined after a successful vote.
The Manchester-Shortsville Central School District Board of Education received a detailed briefing on an anticipated capital project that district presenters said would be presented to voters on Jan. 15, 2025, with polling in the auditorium foyer from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Anthony, the capital project president for the district, told the board the presentation the committee made to the community is the tenth public briefing and that the effort distilled a large building-condition survey into a prioritized project "designed to support us as a school and as a community." Jeff, the scope presenter, outlined infrastructure priorities including a full replacement of the aging cold-water pump system and options to upgrade the generator — from maintaining essential systems to a generator capable of powering the entire facility in an extended outage.
The committee framed the proposed work in three lenses: infrastructure, interior/exterior security and corridor/classroom upgrades. Presenters highlighted specific items such as improving water pressure to distant restrooms, replacing doors in the main gym, repairing water infiltration in glazed middle-school corridors, continuing corridor remodeling in the Red Jacket Education Center (RJEC), and replacing bleachers that committee members said have met their usable life.
Tim, who summarized the timetable and financing, said the district plans to present a capital project totaling $19,950,000 and is working with financial advisors to keep the project tax neutral. "On the low end, New York State will aid us 89 percent of any aidable work," he said; presenters added the committee believes a large portion of the work may be aidable and estimated aid could approach 98 percent for eligible items. Tim also outlined a review timeline: once voters approve the project, architects and construction managers will develop detailed designs and cost estimates, after which New York State Education Department review could take 18 to 50 weeks before final approval.
Board members asked how many classrooms could be renovated, and presenters said exact room counts are not fixed until post-vote design and estimating. The presenters noted $238,000 remains from a prior project that could offset some items and emphasized a conservative approach to avoid redoing recent work: "We're putting infrastructure in place so that when we touch areas, we can go back and finish the work," Anthony said.
The board was told the committee engaged broadly — including faculty, Rotary, the Lions Club and a town-hall meeting — and that public feedback so far has been largely receptive. Next steps are the Jan. 15 vote; if approved, the architects and construction managers will finalize scope and the district will submit plans to SED for review and bidding.
What’s next: The capital project referendum is scheduled for Jan. 15, 2025 (8 a.m.–8 p.m., auditorium foyer). If voters approve the project, the district will begin detailed design and SED review; presenters estimated construction work could begin in July 2026 with anticipated substantial completion in August 2027, subject to SED timing and bidding outcomes.
