Late last year, the North Syracuse Central School District had to table plans to renovate Smith Road Elementary School. The proposal would have cost around $19 million, and district officials said that was too much to ask of taxpayers.
Now, a modified proposal is ready to come before the voters.
The district has trimmed $2.3 million out of the proposal, making it a $16.9 million renovation. All of that project will be funded through EXCEL money, state aid and the district’s capital reserve fund; thus there will be no local tax impact.
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The proposition, which will go before voters on March 18, calls for the following repairs:
Academic/instruction needs
‘ ‘Construct three additional classrooms
‘ ‘Renovate existing classrooms: new flooring, repaint walls and ceilings, additional storage units and shelves, new marker boards and black boards, additional electrical outlets, new floor covering
‘ ‘Provide new windows and exterior doors
Health/safety and code compliance needs
‘ ‘Make building accessible to the disabled
‘ ‘Upgrade existing building electrical service and distribution
‘ ‘Construct additional lavatories
‘ ‘Total roof replacement
‘ ‘Provide ADA-compliant signage throughout the building
Additional building needs
‘ ‘Improve heating and ventilation
‘ ‘Improve visibility of main entrance from administrative area
‘ ‘Renovate kitchen
‘ ‘Expand cafeteria
‘ ‘Replace lockers
‘ ‘Renovate corridors
The plan to renovate Smith Road is part of the district’s facilities renovation plan. The school opened in 1956.
If the Smith Road project is approved and completed, the only schools in the district that will still require significant repairs are Karl W. Saile Bear Road Elementary and Lakeshore Road Elementary.
There will be a public hearing on the proposed referendum at 7 p.m. Wednesday March 11 at Smith Road.
