Voters approved a Liverpool Central School District capital project referendum held March 20 by a margin of 959 to 641.
The $39.7 million construction project represents Phase II of the Phase I to V Long Range Facilities Plan laid out for the 2010-20 decade. The project will take on several repairs throughout the district.
First of all, the roof at Liverpool High School needs to be replaced in its entirety.
“You can see the holes… when you get right up next to them [they’re] actually really large and damaging,” said David Tauro, a member of the district’s Facility Advisory Committee. Potter said more than 1,100 holes had been counted in the school’s roof so far.
In addition, the Chestnut Hill complex is in need of significant renovations, neither building ever having seen a massive overhaul in their 50-year lives. The science rooms at Chestnut Hill Middle School don’t meet state standards for size and safety and must be upgraded. Both buildings also have roof leaks, wiring issues, poor ventilation, mildew, cold zones and multiple other issues that must be addressed for the safety and comfort of the students.
There are also a number of safety issues that need to be addressed. Under the proposal, districtwide, intruder lockset hardware, fire alarm systems and control panel hardware would be replaced, and paging, public address and two-way communications systems would be modernized.
The breakdown of the cost is as follows:
Liverpool High School roof repairs: $6.6 million
Chestnut Hill Elementary substantial building renovation: $12.1 million
Improve classrooms, kitchen, library and gymnasium
Replace roofing, flooring, ceilings and lockers
Install ADA accessible toilets and hardware
Improve HVAC System
Upgrade plumbing and electrical
Chestnut Hill Middle substantial building renovation: $16.6 million
Improve classrooms, kitchen, library and gymnasium
Replace roofing, flooring, ceilings and lockers
Install ADA accessible toilets and hardware
Improve HVAC System
Upgrade plumbing and electrical
Upgrade science rooms and family and consumer science rooms
Improve nurse’s office
Districtwide safety and security improvements: $2.5 million
Install alert buttons throughout each building
Integrate alert buttons to release fire doors
Enhance fire alarm systems
Upgrade P/A systems with room-to-room communication
Install new hardware for classrooms
Total cost: $37,919,700
Only a portion of the total is eligible for state aid; administrators don’t yet know how much. The district will use $917,452 of its capital reserve fund. The rest will be paid for through local taxes, amounting to $59.39 a year on a $100,000 house. Taxes will increase in the fall of 2016, when construction is expected to begin.
For documents relating to the project, visit the district website at liverpool.k12.ny.us.