Voters in the North Syracuse Central School District have approved a captial project referendum by an overwhelming majority. A total of 436 residents went to the polls Thursday, Sept. 24, to vote on Proposition No. 1, approving it by a margin or 375 to 61, and Proposition No. 2, which passed by a margin of 371 to 63.
Proposition No. 1 calls for renovations to North Syracuse Junior High School on Taft Road, including:
- Replacement of the auditorium roof and adjacent roof areas
- Design and abatement of roofing system components that contain asbestos
- Replacement of main gymnasium flooring system
According to the proposition, “designated portions of the roof and floor have exceeded their useful life and should be replaced as a necessary part of maintaining the building.” The roof is leaking in a number of places, and state regulations require the removal of asbestos if it will be disturbed during a construction project.
The estimated cost is $1 million, which will be covered by state aid. The district needs voter approval to use state funds for the construction.
Proposition No. 2, meanwhile, asked voters to approve the establishment of a capital reserve fund, or savings account, to “pay for the costs of the repair and reconstruction of district facilities and the acquisition of materials required for such repairs and reconstruction.” The fund will be started with $500,000 in unused Kindergarten Conversion Aid granted to the district when it switched to full-day kindergarten; continued funding would be provided over the next 15 years through various sources, including state aid and, according to the proposition, “cost saving measures resulting in unexpended funds or an unappropriated fund balance.” The district hopes to ultimately save $2.5 million in the account. This, too, comes at no cost to the taxpayers.
NSCSD Superintendent Annette Speach thanked the voters for their support in a statement: “We are excited to be able to move forward with the renovations at North Syracuse Junior High School and to be able to establish a reserve fund for future projects,” she said.
