Fredonia superintendent outlines three-part $20M capital plan; vote set for Dec. 12

Superintendent Grant Ziliacs told the Fredonia Central School Board on Nov. 19 that the district will ask voters Dec. 12 to approve three linked capital propositions intended to address long‑deferred building needs, music‑program space and athletic‑field upgrades.

Ziliacs said a 2023 building‑condition survey by Young & Wright Architects identified roughly $50 million in potential work; district staff narrowed that to about $22 million of priorities that form Proposition 1, described as the “warm, safe and dry” package that focuses on roofs, mechanical systems, fire‑alarm and PA replacements, a new generator at Wheelock and other safety and infrastructure items. John Forbes, the district’s business administrator, told the board Prop. 1 would add roughly $63 a year to the average Fredonia homeowner’s tax bill.

Proposition 2 would expand music rehearsal and practice space, Ziliacs said, to accommodate a surge in participation. Andy Bennett, the district’s music‑department instructional leader, said more than 900 students currently participate in ensembles and that 78% of Proposition 2 would be funded by state aid; Bennett estimated the local share would cost the average tax bill about $37 a year. He warned that if Proposition 2 failed, the district would consider limiting ensemble enrollment.

Proposition 3 targets athletic fields and site work: turf fields for multiple sports, resurfaced tennis courts, new parking and accessible spectator areas with lights, grandstands and a press box. Jesse Giers, a middle‑school teacher and coach, said roughly 29% of that work would be covered by state aid and the local portion would represent a 6.9% tax increase for that component — about $220 per household per year, he said. Presenters emphasized that Propositions 2 and 3 are contingent on Proposition 1 passing.

Ziliacs described a multi‑channel outreach campaign: a Q&A page on the district website, an informational video produced by music teacher Kevin Way that the district planned to post on social media, newsletter mailings to all residents after Thanksgiving and two planned question‑and‑answer sessions (one at the high school and one at Wheelock) ahead of the Dec. 12 vote. The superintendent said district staff and board members have met at community events and with local media to provide factual information and answer questions.

During the second public‑comment period, a resident identified as living on Liberty Street urged the board to consider phasing projects and expressed concern about the cumulative tax burden on senior citizens, saying, “It’s constant, constant, constant.” Ziliacs and Forbes acknowledged the concern and reiterated that the district had prioritized work identified in the condition survey and narrowed the scope in consultation with architects and state funding rules.

The district will hold the vote Dec. 12 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the high‑school cafeteria. If voters approve the propositions, the district will proceed with design and procurement steps required by state rules and the building‑condition schedule outlined in the presentation.

Funding details, including state‑aid assumptions, the district’s estimated local shares and an itemized list of project elements, are available on the district website’s capital‑project tab and in the Q&A packet the superintendent said the district will continue to update as questions arrive.