Oxford capital project fails: Superintendent cites economic uncertainty
OXFORD – A margin of nine votes decided the fate of the Oxford Academy & Central School District’s $10.61 million phase II capital project in a referendum held Thursday.
The project failed with a count of 162 votes for, and 171 against, District Clerk Michele Rice reported shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m. last night.
According to Rice, a total of 341 votes were cast in the voter referendum, including 22 absentee ballots. Eight votes were nullified due to voter error, the district clerk went on to report. Two absentee ballots were also nullified, and therefore not included in the total vote count.
“The result of this vote certainly emphasizes residents’ uncertainty towards our local and state economy,” Superintendent Randy Squier said this morning.
Squier expressed surprise regarding the lackluster turnout at the polls.
“Considering the emotional importance some residents had towards the planning of this project, I would have expected a larger voter turnout,” he explained.
School Board President Dawn Golden said she was “disappointed” in the result, which marks the rejection of the second part of an overall capital improvement project roughly three years in the planning. Planning for the phase of the project which went before voters yesterday began in earnest last January, when the district brought in former Johnson City Schools Superintendent Larry Rowe to facilitate discussions.
“I think the next step is to continue with the Phase I project and concentrate on completing that project,” she said.
According to Golden, the defeat will not have an impact on the $4.65 million project approved by voters last fall, plans for which are currently before the New York State Education Department for review. Actual construction is expected to begin next summer.
Whether or not the district will bring the project, or a version of it, forward to voters again has not yet been decided.
“At this point, I would recommend the district focus on student learning, and preparing a budget that will include another substantial loss in state and federal aid,” Squier said. “The outcome of the 2011-12 budget could help bring more clarity of our long-term facility needs.”
The project failed with a count of 162 votes for, and 171 against, District Clerk Michele Rice reported shortly after polls closed at 9 p.m. last night.
According to Rice, a total of 341 votes were cast in the voter referendum, including 22 absentee ballots. Eight votes were nullified due to voter error, the district clerk went on to report. Two absentee ballots were also nullified, and therefore not included in the total vote count.
“The result of this vote certainly emphasizes residents’ uncertainty towards our local and state economy,” Superintendent Randy Squier said this morning.
Squier expressed surprise regarding the lackluster turnout at the polls.
“Considering the emotional importance some residents had towards the planning of this project, I would have expected a larger voter turnout,” he explained.
School Board President Dawn Golden said she was “disappointed” in the result, which marks the rejection of the second part of an overall capital improvement project roughly three years in the planning. Planning for the phase of the project which went before voters yesterday began in earnest last January, when the district brought in former Johnson City Schools Superintendent Larry Rowe to facilitate discussions.
“I think the next step is to continue with the Phase I project and concentrate on completing that project,” she said.
According to Golden, the defeat will not have an impact on the $4.65 million project approved by voters last fall, plans for which are currently before the New York State Education Department for review. Actual construction is expected to begin next summer.
Whether or not the district will bring the project, or a version of it, forward to voters again has not yet been decided.
“At this point, I would recommend the district focus on student learning, and preparing a budget that will include another substantial loss in state and federal aid,” Squier said. “The outcome of the 2011-12 budget could help bring more clarity of our long-term facility needs.”
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