Second public meeting to be held at 7 p.m. tonight, at F-M High School

By Hayleigh Gowans

Staff Writer

Residents in the Fayetteville-Manlius School District got to learn more about the planning process for the needed facilities update and repair projects at a public meeting June 1 at Wellwood Middle School. Another opportunity to learn about the planning process will occur at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 2, at the F-M High School auditorium.

Representatives from School Leadership LLC spoke to a group of about 15 residents about the process the school district has taken so far to comprehensively assess the needs of the district and how to best update and repair multiple facilities.

Three facilities were found to have the most issues in terms of updates and repairs and likely will be prioritized: Wellwood Middle School, F-M High School and Enders Road Elementary, said Howard Smith, an associate from the consulting company.

Smith said for phase 1 of the process, his group determined upgrade and repair needs for each of the district’s buildings by assessing building conditions reports, enrollment projections, a 1988-2015 Capital Project History report, past school budgets, operational cost data and other related data. Some of the needs of buildings include heating, ventilation and air conditioning system upgrades; technology upgrades; fire safety upgrades; presence of asbestos; water pipe system repair; security system upgrades; improving indoor air quality; upgrading plumbing systems; accessibility and ADA compliance needs; and site utility upgrades.

According to the building conditions report that was presented in December 2015, estimated facility needs and repair costs are about $35 million for Wellwood, $27 million for the high school and $12.4 million for Enders Road. Comparatively, estimated cost to replace these buildings is about $33 million for Wellwood, $69.8 million for the high school and $13.1 million for Enders Road.

“From the building conditions report done in 2015, both Enders Road and Wellwood were shown to have lower costs to replace than the costs to repair,” said Superintendent Craig Tice. “Because we were at a fork in the road, we wanted the community to weigh in … Transparency on our end and feedback from the community is important in determining what is best for the school district moving forward.”

Smith said that for the past 30 years, the district has been making smaller repairs and upgrades, but the district administration has chosen to take on the facilities projects from a comprehensive approach to find the best way to execute it while ensuring taxpayer costs stay level and students’ education is not disrupted significantly. Additionally, a comprehensive approach is required if the district is to receive funds from the New York State Education Department, which will fund nearly 75 percent of building construction costs, he said.

Phase 2 — which Smith said his group is currently in — involves the consultants working with groups from the school and conducting interviews and walk-throughs of each building to receive feedback and determine prioritized needs.

The public meeting held June 1 was part of phase 2, and residents were asked to share what they believe should be prioritized and if they had any concerns. Some of the concerns voiced included the heating and cooling of buildings, storage space for students and teachers, preserving the historical value of Wellwood, possible displacement of students during construction and traffic issues.

A survey will be distributed by School Leadership in mid-June to gain additional feedback from the community to consider.

Phase 3 of the process includes a final report from School Leadership that culminates the findings of phases 1 and 2, and will include options for construction, repairs, structural changes and possibilities of how to house students during these projects for the school board to consider, Smith said.

“So far, there are no options that have been presented to the board,” said Smith. “I want to dispel rumors that have circulated because I believe the school district is being very transparent and no actions will be taken without the approval of the residents.”

The final report is expected to be released next fall, and the board of education will determine the best options to take moving forward. Any decisions on a capital project must first be approved by voters before they can be carried out, and Tice said the earliest the school district will likely be able to hold a referendum is spring 2017.

Another public meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on June 2 at the F-M High School auditorium, 8201 E. Seneca Turnpike, Manlius.

To learn more about the facilities planning project, go to fmschools.org/facilities.