CAZENOVIA — On March 30, more than two thousand residents of the Cazenovia Central School District (CCSD) flocked to the polls to cast their votes on the district’s $10,713,319 Phase II Capital Project.
According to the district, the project is intended to address equity, infrastructure and program needs outside the school buildings by modifying the physical education (PE), sports, and community facilities at the Emory Avenue Complex.
“In a small community such as ours, there is arguably no greater resource than a strong school district,” said CCSD Board of Education President Dave Mehlbaum. “Maintaining and modernizing our school facilities is essential to our mission. This project will provide current and future students with adequate facilities for PE and extracurriculars at our main Emory Avenue campus. We are grateful for the support of the community, and it is important that our students get to see it for themselves, as this project is all about the kids.”
According to the district’s plan, the Buckley-Volo Stadium field will be transformed into a multi-purpose, synthetic turf field to be used by the PE programs and multiple girls’ and boys’ teams, including field hockey, football, lacrosse, and soccer (up to 225 ft. x 360 ft.). The stadium will also be outfitted for track and field events.
The Upper Field, located behind the stadium, will be modified into a multi-purpose, synthetic turf field that will be used for PE classes, team practices, and competitions. In addition to modified baseball and softball, the upper field will also be marked for field hockey, football, lacrosse, and soccer (up to 190 ft. x360 ft.).
“The project is a wonderful opportunity for our kids that will provide physical education spaces to 900 kids a day,” said CCSD Superintendent Christopher DiFulvio. “The project will allow our kids to play and practice right on campus. One of the most exciting parts for kids is the ADA compliance that will provide access for all our students.”
CCSD plans to cover most of the project costs using a combination of available State Building Aid (estimated $4,188,192) and $2,410,325 from the district’s capital reserve fund, which is designated for capital improvements.
The remaining “local share” ($4,114,802) would be financed through the local tax levy. The estimated average annual increase for taxpayers is $39.54 per $100,000 full assessed home value.
Since its introduction, the proposition — particularly the artificial turf aspect of the project — has been a hotly debated topic, with community members expressing apprehensions regarding the safety of the proposed playing surfaces, the cost of the project, the environmental impacts, the maintenance and life-expectancy of the turf, and the potential for future stadium lighting.
Residents voiced their concerns to the district during two public information sessions and a series of four town halls held in Cazenovia, New Woodstock, Fenner, and Nelson.
Ultimately, the proposition was approved by a vote of 1,189 to 1,102.
“I, as well as all the district residents that have contacted me after the vote, were extremely disappointed in the results, especially since the voters were basically evenly divided,” said village resident Elizabeth Koennecke. “We are mourning the upcoming loss of the quiet enjoyment of our village, we are angry at the excessive cost to the taxpayers, and we are terrified about the ecological implications of all the tire waste that is going to be deposited next to the lake.”
Koennecke added that she is concerned the district will fail to keep its promises related to protecting the lake, such as traffic control, parking and lighting.
On April 1, Cazenovia Town Councilor Kelli Johnson expressed her disappointment regarding the divisiveness that arose in response to the proposal.
“The vote was extremely close,” she said. “It was very unfortunate that this was allowed to become a contentious issue when it could have been an opportunity to build community by engaging voices expected to have concerns from the outset of initial conversations. Bringing different lenses to the table always creates a stronger proposal. An effort by the school to bring people back together while drafting the final details for this project will be appreciated.”
The day after the referendum, DiFulvio thanked all the community members who voted.
“The voter turnout was impressive and spoke to how great our community is,” he said.
CCSD Athletic Administrator Michael Byrnes also recognized the large turnout and thanked the district administration and board of education for developing and supporting the project.
“I truly feel the end results of this referendum vote will now put the students of Cazenovia Central School District and the Cazenovia Laker teams in the best position ever to widely experience the well-known healthy benefits and lifelong lessons that participation in athletics and outdoor physical education provide the mind, body and soul,” he said. “We will now be able to schedule and plan activities where students, teachers, and coaches will be able to count on well-designed facilities that they can trust and be proud of day in and day out for so much more of our school calendar. . . We all plan to continue representing our treasured Cazenovia community with Laker P.R.I.D.E. — Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Dreams, & Enthusiasm — for years to come.”
According to DiFulvio, the next step of the project is the design phase. Once that has been completed, the district will submit the project to the New York State Education Department for approval. “We hope to submit the proposal in the fall,” he said.
Additional information on the project, including FAQs, is available on the district website at cazenoviacsd.com/district-office/2020-capital-project.