Oxford voters to decide on phase II capital project, again
OXFORD – Residents of the Oxford Academy & Central School District will be heading back to the polls on June 23, this time to vote on a revised version of the capital project which was defeated by voters last fall.
Superintendent Randy Squier expressed confidence that the project will be successful this time around. The previously proposed project failed by a margin of 9 votes in November. Only 341 votes were cast in the referendum.
“We feel confident the ‘yes’ votes are out there; we just need to do a better job getting them to the polls,” said Squier.
This time around, the project bears a larger price tag – $11,316,216 as opposed to the $10.16 million – and it has been divided into two propositions, on which residents will vote separately.
The first proposition represents the core project, totaling $10,967,591. The scope of work consists of $6,886,238 in improvements at the Oxford Middle School – to include reconstruction of existing classrooms and facilities, renovations to the school’s library/media center, information technology improvements, and conversion of the building’s steam heating system to hot water. According to Squier, the new heating system is expected to cut the district’s energy costs by 10 percent and will also require less maintenance.
At the Primary School, $439,175 has been allocated for site work and reconstruction, to include playground improvements, air conditioning in a hand full of classrooms and installation of wireless technology.
$3,651,178 will be spent at the High School, of which $1,187,060 will be allocated to relocate the district and special programs offices, expand the school’s art room and develop a shared entrance with the Primary School. School officials have stressed this will help make the building more secure during the school day, and will not affect students at the start of the day or at dismissal. Other elements of the reconstruction include rearranging the existing agriculture and technology areas, as well as replacing some classroom walls with folding partitions to increase flexibility.
The remaining $1.46 million is slated for site work at the Primary/High School campus, including new bleachers and other improvements to the school’s athletic fields. Drainage issues will also be addressed.
“We consider our athletic fields academic space as well,” Squier said, explaining that those outdoor spaces are used by both sports and physical education classes. They are often rendered unusable by rain because of the poor drainage.
“We want to make it right,” he said.
Voters will also decide on a second proposition, to construct a multipurpose building which will serve as storage facility, concession stand and restrooms. The building would replace Blackhawk Stadium’s current concession stand/press box, which was built in the 1970s.
According to Squier, the structure’s estimated cost of $339,625 would be paid for out of the district’s capital reserve fund. The entirety of the primary project would be funded by a combination of state building aid and EXCEL money, which is designed to cover the percentage of the cost which would otherwise fall on the local taxpayer.
“There is still no increase in the tax levy,” the superintendent said.
If approved by voters, design documents will be submitted to the New York State Education Department for approval by the end of the year. Actual construction is not likely to start until spring of 2013, with completion expected by fall of the following year.
Squier said the board wanted to put the project to vote before July 1, the date any changes to the state’s building aid formula would go into affect. There is also a practical reason for putting the matter before voters sooner rather than later.
“The longer you wait, costs do escalate,” he explained.
Community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed capital project at a public information meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 in the Primary School Multipurpose Room.
Squier will also field questions about the project, as well as other topics pertaining to the district at The Evening Sun’s next “Talk of the Town.” The session will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14 at Hoppie’s Ice Cream Parlor, 2 Lafayette Square in Oxford. Those who are unable to attend, but would like to submit questions can do so by contacting Melissa Stagnaro at 337-3071 or mstagnaro@evesun.com.
Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 23 in the Oxford High School Media Center. To be eligible to vote in the voter referendum, an individual must be a U.S. citizen over the age of 18 and have resided in the district for a minimum of 30 days.
For more information on the proposed capital project visit www.oxac.org or call the District Office at 843-2025, ext. 4040.
Superintendent Randy Squier expressed confidence that the project will be successful this time around. The previously proposed project failed by a margin of 9 votes in November. Only 341 votes were cast in the referendum.
“We feel confident the ‘yes’ votes are out there; we just need to do a better job getting them to the polls,” said Squier.
This time around, the project bears a larger price tag – $11,316,216 as opposed to the $10.16 million – and it has been divided into two propositions, on which residents will vote separately.
The first proposition represents the core project, totaling $10,967,591. The scope of work consists of $6,886,238 in improvements at the Oxford Middle School – to include reconstruction of existing classrooms and facilities, renovations to the school’s library/media center, information technology improvements, and conversion of the building’s steam heating system to hot water. According to Squier, the new heating system is expected to cut the district’s energy costs by 10 percent and will also require less maintenance.
At the Primary School, $439,175 has been allocated for site work and reconstruction, to include playground improvements, air conditioning in a hand full of classrooms and installation of wireless technology.
$3,651,178 will be spent at the High School, of which $1,187,060 will be allocated to relocate the district and special programs offices, expand the school’s art room and develop a shared entrance with the Primary School. School officials have stressed this will help make the building more secure during the school day, and will not affect students at the start of the day or at dismissal. Other elements of the reconstruction include rearranging the existing agriculture and technology areas, as well as replacing some classroom walls with folding partitions to increase flexibility.
The remaining $1.46 million is slated for site work at the Primary/High School campus, including new bleachers and other improvements to the school’s athletic fields. Drainage issues will also be addressed.
“We consider our athletic fields academic space as well,” Squier said, explaining that those outdoor spaces are used by both sports and physical education classes. They are often rendered unusable by rain because of the poor drainage.
“We want to make it right,” he said.
Voters will also decide on a second proposition, to construct a multipurpose building which will serve as storage facility, concession stand and restrooms. The building would replace Blackhawk Stadium’s current concession stand/press box, which was built in the 1970s.
According to Squier, the structure’s estimated cost of $339,625 would be paid for out of the district’s capital reserve fund. The entirety of the primary project would be funded by a combination of state building aid and EXCEL money, which is designed to cover the percentage of the cost which would otherwise fall on the local taxpayer.
“There is still no increase in the tax levy,” the superintendent said.
If approved by voters, design documents will be submitted to the New York State Education Department for approval by the end of the year. Actual construction is not likely to start until spring of 2013, with completion expected by fall of the following year.
Squier said the board wanted to put the project to vote before July 1, the date any changes to the state’s building aid formula would go into affect. There is also a practical reason for putting the matter before voters sooner rather than later.
“The longer you wait, costs do escalate,” he explained.
Community members will have the opportunity to learn more about the proposed capital project at a public information meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 in the Primary School Multipurpose Room.
Squier will also field questions about the project, as well as other topics pertaining to the district at The Evening Sun’s next “Talk of the Town.” The session will take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, June 14 at Hoppie’s Ice Cream Parlor, 2 Lafayette Square in Oxford. Those who are unable to attend, but would like to submit questions can do so by contacting Melissa Stagnaro at 337-3071 or mstagnaro@evesun.com.
Polls will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 23 in the Oxford High School Media Center. To be eligible to vote in the voter referendum, an individual must be a U.S. citizen over the age of 18 and have resided in the district for a minimum of 30 days.
For more information on the proposed capital project visit www.oxac.org or call the District Office at 843-2025, ext. 4040.
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