Capital Construction Project Update
Changes have been made to the original capital construction project scope. Please refer to this document to view the recommendations made to reduce costs and for an updated project timeline.
Capital Project Exit Survey Report
The Guilderland Central School District conducted an exit survey during its capital project referendum on Oct. 16, 2018. The purpose was to collect demographic data about who voted on the capital project and information about why voters voted the way they did.
The survey was voluntary and anonymous. Surveys were made available, both electronically and in paper form, to voters at the polling sites for anyone who chose to fill one out after voting. While these results do no represent the opinions of all voters, they do provide many residents perceptions about the district and its proposed capital project.
Please note two comments were redacted due to use of profanity and the use of a person’s name.
- 2,692 residents voted on Guilderland’s proposed capital project. This was an increase of 37% from the May 2018 budget vote.
- Of the 2,692 residents who voted, 706 chose to fill out an exit survey–a response rate of 26%. Of the 706 completed surveys, 502–or 71% were completed online.
- Of the 706 voters who completed an exit survey during the 2018 capital project referendum, 22 did not indicate how they voted on the project. Of those that did, 442 said they voted “yes” on the referendum, while 242 said they voted “no.”
- The following, in descending order, are the reasons given by the “yes” respondents for approving the capital project:
I believe in investing in the district’s facilities …………………..83%
The items to be addressed are necessary ……………………………82%
The tax increase is reasonable ……………………………………………… 55%
I have children/grandchildren in the schools ……………………53%
The proposal is fiscally responsible ……………………………………..45%
Other reason [see comments, pp. 19-20] ………………………………10%
- The following, in descending order, are the reasons given by the “no” respondents for voting against the capital project:
The tax increase is not reasonable ………………………………………. 56%
The proposal is not fiscally responsible ……………………………… 50%
Other reason [see comments, pp. 21-24] ……………………………… 33%
The items to be addressed are not necessary ……………………. 27%
I want to support the proposal but can’t afford it …………….. 20%
I do not have children/grandchildren in the schools ………. 16%
For full exit survey information, please click the link to the report, above.
GCSD residents vote down $42.7 million capital project
On Tuesday, October 16, Guilderland Central School District residents voted down the district’s $42.7 million capital project by a tally of 1375 no votes (51 percent) to 1317 yes votes (49 percent) .
“We are disappointed in the outcome, especially because it was so close. We will use the feedback from our exit poll to re-evaluate and plan our next steps. There is still critically important work to be done to keep our students in a safe, secure, healthy learning environment,” said Dr. Marie Wiles, superintendent of schools.
The capital project had proposed to address necessary improvements to enhance the safety and security of district buildings and grounds, make learning environments healthier and more comfortable, and modernize learning spaces.
Referendum Vote: Tuesday, Oct. 16
Watch a short video to learn more about the PROPOSED Capital Construction project
On Tuesday, October 16, Guilderland Central School District residents will head to the polls to decide on a $42.7 million capital construction project. If approved by voters, the project will address necessary improvements to enhance the safety and security of district buildings and grounds, make learning environments healthier and more comfortable, and modernize learning spaces.
The $42,718,100 proposition calls for upgrades to aging infrastructure in the district’s seven school buildings and improvements for safety, security and technology systems district-wide.
Safe and secure
- $21,192,994 devoted to safety and security improvements centered around fire alarm, PA and telephone system replacements, added security cameras and shatter-resistant film; as well as plumbing upgrades and interior, exterior and site upgrades throughout the district’s seven school buildings
Healthy and comfortable
- $9,403,851 for renovations to heating and ventilation and window replacement throughout the district’s seven school buildings.
Future-ready
- $12,121,255 for technology infrastructure and program upgrades to enhance instructional opportunities for students, such as science and technology lab modernization, reconfigurable mobile classroom furniture and wireless infrastructure upgrades
Timeline
Beginning in March 2018, a committee of students, teachers, support staff, parents, administrators and community members worked with a team of architects and engineers to develop a proposal to address some important needs of all seven of our school buildings, transportation and maintenance buildings.
At the August 14 board meeting, the Board of Education voted to adopt the recommendation of the committee. If approved by the community in October, construction will begin in the Spring of 2020.
For district residents owning a home or property with an assessed value of $326,000 (the median full value assessment in the Town of Guilderland), the estimated tax increase per year for the proposed projects based on current information is: $103 ($0.315 cents/$1,000 assessed full value)
INFOGRAPHIC: What is a school capital construction project?
Just like a home, school facilities need regular attention and upkeep to continue to operate year after year as originally intended. The cost of keeping up with the daily wear and tear caused by thousands of students, staff and visitors can rise above what the annual school budget can support. Capital improvement projects are a way for school districts to access state aid to complete a larger amount of facilities work than possible within the scope of the annual school budget. Check out the infographic (above) for a breakdown of GCSD’s proposed project, by-the-numbers.