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District weighs leasing former Catholic school versus on‑site renovation to house UPK and 6th grade
Summary
Superintendent and consultants described why a former Catholic school was selected as the most practical temporary relocation for UPK and to stage CLEF renovations, but warned a five‑year lease (≈$7.1M) plus incomplete state lease aid (≈$2.2M) leaves a funding gap and could trigger BAU recalculation risks.
The board heard that the former Catholic school was chosen as the preferred temporary location for UPK, special education and technology programs because it already contains school‑oriented features and could meet NYS UPK requirements with limited modification. The district reported a proposed five‑year lease cost near $7.1 million; current approved lease aid from NYSED was described as about $2.2 million with other identified funding near $1.0 million, leaving a shortfall the district seeks to close through an NYSED funding request.
Fiscal advisers cautioned that NYSED's preliminary BAU recalculations could reduce maximum cost allowances (MCAs) across multiple buildings, potentially lowering future building‑aid eligibility even as the district seeks additional lease aid. The advisers presented an example where preliminary recalculation produced an estimated $15.5 million loss in MCAs across buildings, prompting the district to consider whether to accept additional NYSED lease funding if it comes with BAU recalculation conditions.
