Got questions about the Capital Project?

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What work will be done at the high school?

Existing building systems:

Recoat existing foam roofs
Refurbish auditorium seating
Replace auditorium carpet
New physical education complex/gymnasium:
Three-station gymnasium
Drop curtains between gym stations
Bleacher seating for 1,200 people
P.E. locker rooms
Team locker rooms
Simulated running track (corridor around the gym)
Expanded fitness center
Coaches offices
Officials’ locker/changing room
Media room
Gym lobby, entrance and vestibules
Concession stand
Ticket booth
Public restrooms
Display cabinets

 

What work will be done at the middle school?

Existing building systems:

Replace doors

 

If the high school gymnasium is structurally sound, why do we need to reconstruct it?

While the high school gymnasium is essentially sound – except for a leaking roof and some outdated plumbing – it is neither large enough, nor designed for today’s programming needs. The separate physical education stations cannot be combined into one larger station, and the main gym cannot accommodate seating the entire student body. Physical education curriculum now emphasizes wellness and learning “lifetime” fitness techniques, such as weight lifting and aerobic activities that do not fill well in the current layout of the P.E. spaces. Modifications to the locker room for more storage and a girls’ team room would be difficult in the existing area.

Renovations would make the spaces look much nicer, and would provide new lighting, heating, plumbing, and ventilation systems, but the layout would not change. Thus, program needs would still not be addressed.

Reconstruction, on the other hand, would enable a more efficient layout, with space for expanded storage, offices, fitness and seating. The main gym would have a seating capacity for 1,200 spectators or the full student body at once. And, all three areas of the new gym could be used as separate teaching stations or combined into one large facility. Either way, each area could be viewed from the main gym or the corridor, for added supervision and security.

The corridor running track would be within the confines of the Physical Education Department instead of through the main corridors of the building, where people are walking.

If high school students will be using the middle school gymnasium during renovations, why can't they continue to do so long term?

The middle school gymnasium doesn't have the capacity to serve 1,700+ students in both schools. In the short-term, students and staff will be asked to endure the inconveniences of scheduling issues and conflicts but this would not be an ideal long-term solution. Plus, the high school gymnasium would continue to deteriorate and repairs would be needed to preserve the integrity of the building.

Who will benefit from the high school work?

Every district student will attend Gloversville High School if they continue to reside in the district; therefore, the additional improvements at the high school have the potential of affecting all students.

What about Gov. Paterson's efforts to cut or delay state aid?

It is true that the governor has announced his intention to delay state aid payments that have already been promised to school districts for the current school year, but that is OPERATING aid, not the BUILDING aid that our renovation project has already been approved for. At this point, there has been no talk in Albany about delaying or withholding building aid for projects that have already been approved.

How did the district create its list of capital improvement projects?

The state requires school districts to develop a long-range facilities plan that defines the condition of facilities and their maintenance, including any improvements, replacements or renovations that will need to be made within five years. In 2003, while the district was considering plans for a building and grounds/transportation facility, district officials developed a long-range plan with help from architects at Collins & Scoville. The plan is available to the public at the district offices.

At the high school in particular, and anywhere in the district where we have expanded our facilities, doesn’t more space mean more maintenance and staffing costs?

Not necessarily. Teaching staff is only increased as programming and enrollment needs require. Expanding our buildings has no impact on the budget for teaching staff requirements. Maintenance costs should be offset by the savings the district will see as a result of upgrading building systems, such as by replacing heating and plumbing units that are costly to repair, and by replacing inefficient windows and doors with more efficient versions. The district anticipates a trade-off between maintenance costs and maintenance savings.

How is the district paying for the Capital Project?

Financing for the project came through a number of revenue sources:
Remaining funds from the $60.3 million capital project approved by voters in 2004.

State Building Aid
The district's state aid ratio for building construction is 97.1 percent of eligible capital project expenditures.

EXCEL Aid (Expanding our Children's Education & Learning)
EXCEL is a state program that provide additional funding for school construction projects.
Gloversville Enlarged School District is eligible for $2.4 million in EXCEL Aid.

Debt Service Reserve Fund
Money the district already has set aside to pay debts. The district invests money it receives for capital work, and that interest is transferred from the debt service reserve fund to the general operating fund to help cover the local share of the building project.
Debt service reserve funds can only be used to pay debts.

Operating cost savings
Anticipated energy cost savings and reduced maintenance costs that should result from the upgrades to aging building systems.

The district will not raise school taxes to pay for the project.

Will my local taxes go up?

No. The district will pay for the proposed project using a combination of state building aid, EXCEL aid, and some of the money the district already has set aside that can only be used for paying off debts.

Will my state taxes go up?

No. State building aid is money that is reserved in the state budget every year to help schools pay for construction. All state taxpayers contribute to the reserve. State legislators determine the amount of state building aid available to each school district.

Although state aid will cover the majority of the project cost, doesn't that money come from taxpayers' pockets as well?

Yes, most state revenue comes from the sales and income taxes paid by residents and businesses all across New York. These are taxes we would be paying whether or not Gloversville proceeds with this work.

What if we don't complete the work?

If we don’t do anything further, the building problems won’t go away, and they could cost more to fix in the future. Some of the problems may get worse. Postponing the renovations could result in emergency repairs that would need to be paid for out of the district’s annual operating budget, which directly affects local taxes each year.

Why do our buildings need so much work?

Much of the remaining project will address the repairs and upgrades needed to keep buildings that are between 40 and 75 years old structurally sound. The buildings have been well-maintained over the years, but some systems – such as plumbing and heating – are wearing out and can no longer be repaired. Additionally, the older windows and doors are not as energy efficient as today’s models. Replacing windows and doors should help to contain energy costs, as well as provide more natural light for students and staff.