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Rome City School district holds capital‑project workshop as board weighs December referendum timeline
Summary
Superintendent Anselm and consultants outlined three financing and construction scenarios—ranging from a $58.9M full addition to a $25.4M tax‑neutral option—while the board was told NYSED and FEMA timing requires a scenario decision by the next meeting to meet an October 2029 FEMA expenditure deadline and a potential December vote.
Superintendent Anselm opened the workshop by saying the goal was to "review the work we have completed over the past 2 years, provide an update on where the district currently stands, explain the challenges as well as opportunities before us, present potential paths forward, and prepare for decisions necessary to meet a December 2026 capital referendum timeline." She said no board decisions were required that night but emphasized the district must keep planning while awaiting NYSED answers.
Consultants from the district's capital‑project team — Nathan Wey of CNS (construction manager), Craig Daley of La Bella (architect) and Mike Fiscani of Fiscal Advisers (financial adviser) — walked the board through three scenarios. Nathan Wey noted the FEMA timeline: "by October 2029, all of the money that FEMA has given you ... has to be expensed," and stressed the time needed for design, state review, bidding and construction. The three scenarios presented ranged from an approximately $58.9 million full program (20‑classroom addition plus multipurpose space) to a roughly $25.4 million option that leaves Staley unreconstructed but is tax‑neutral.
The team urged the board to choose a scenario by the end of August so staff can complete the design and state submissions needed to hit the FEMA expenditure window. The board was told the October board meeting is the expected date to adopt resolution(s) to go to a December vote, with community outreach planned between October and the vote date.
