Union Springs Capital Project for Safety Improvements
December 2022 Dear Union Springs Community Member: and contend with supply chain issues, the sooner we begin this work, the better; waiting six more months until May For students to learn effectively, they must feel both would put the commencement of the work out that much physically and emotionally safe. Over the past few school further. Others may ask, “What is the impact of this project years, we have added to our school counseling team, to the local tax levy?” This proposed project will have a promoted positive behaviors, and have worked with 0% additional impact on the tax levy if approved by students and their families to help support them during voters. Through the prudent use of our reserves, the Board some challenging moments in their lives. Further, we of Education is proposing the use of $1,000,000 from our have augmented our school security with personnel and capital reserve to fund this proposed project that, when partnerships with the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, coupled with state aid, would not create an additional tax and have worked to improve our overall responses to burden for our community. emergency situations with drills, after-action reviews, and Because we are proposing to spend money from our feedback from both the community and law enforcement. capital reserve to defray the cost of this safety oriented As a school district, we take the safety and welfare of our capital project, it is important that we also ask voters for students seriously, and we are constantly seeking ways permission to again save money to offset the cost of future to keep our school buildings secure so that our students capital projects. Proposition two asks voters to allow the can learn and grow in an environment in which they can district to create a new capital reserve in the amount of become their very best selves. In reviewing our facilities $1,500,000. The money to fund this reserve would come and the tragedies that have befallen schools across the from state aid, end of year account balances, and other country in recent times, the Board of Education has unexpended funds the district receives from time to authorized a vote to be held on December 6, 2022, and has time. Our MS/HS building is 87 years old this year, and its proposed a capital project in the amount of $2,815,000 to plumbing is in very difficult shape. In the years ahead, the help improve our safety infrastructure as a district. district will have to undertake significant work to stabilize the plumbing infrastructure to ensure a healthy building This proposed project will help us secure our facilities for generations to come. If the voters authorize us to save with: door replacement and improvements; upgraded money in a capital reserve, these funds can be used to exterior door contacts so we will know if a door is open offset the future expense of this upcoming capital work. or propped to the outside, the addition of bollards to Our responsibility as a district to keep our students safe is building entrances to prevent vehicle intrusion into our something that necessitates the contemplation of a capital glass vestibules; the ability to glaze our at-grade windows project focused on securing our facilities, so that our work with an intrusion resistant film to prevent bad actors can remain on student learning and achievement. We from being able to gain access to our facilities through believe that this project will help our district take great broken windows; and provide us with updated locks to strides towards being more secure and enable our school reduce the number of keys needed to secure the facilities community to update our facilities to be more responsive in an emergency situation. This work would take place to the evolving nature of school security considerations. at all schools in our district. Further, this project would install lockdown alarms and notifications systems at the The polls will be open from noon to 9pm on December 6, MS/HS, similar to the one already installed at AJ Smith 2022, in the gym lobby at the Middle School/High School. Elementary School. This project will also allow us to create If you require an absentee ballot, please contact Valerie an evacuation pathway between the bus garage and AJ Castiglia, Board Clerk, at 315-889-4100. Thank you for your Smith so that should the school need to evacuate because continued support of our school district; please vote. of a fire or emergency situation, our nearly 360 students between the ages of 4 and 10 at the school, would be able to safely exit the building, and not have to walk down Sincerely, public roads to get to an alternate location. Some might ask, “Why we are voting on this project in December as opposed to when we traditionally vote in May?” The answer is we want to continue to secure our Jarett S. Powers, Ed.D. facilities as quickly as possible. With the time it takes to get a capital project approved by voters and the state Superintendent education department, and then put a project out to bid | | | Union Springs Central School District 239 Cayuga Street (315) 889-4101 www.unionspringscsd.org
UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Scope of the Security Systems: Work by Building Middle/High School • Provide site bollards • Replace select interior doors • Provide access control door hardware • Provide intrusion resistant window film on all at grade windows locations • Upgrade PA system to include Lockdown systems Site Deterrents lockdown features Exterior electric door access control hardware, Bollards and security measures. lockdown button, and alert features. AJ Elementary School • Provide site bollards • Provide building evacuation path to Bus Garage • Replace select interior doors • Provide access control door hardware • Provide intrusion resistant window film on all at grade windows locations Vote TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Union Springs High New Evacuation Pathway School Gymnasium This path would connect the district’s properties, allow for proper maintenance and snow removal, and ensure that students have a safe way to get from AJ Smith to an alternate site in the event of an emergency. 2 wwwwww.unionspr.unionspringscsdingscsd.or.orgg
CAPITAL PROJECT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSITION #1 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT Shall the Board of Education undertake a capital improvement project consisting of the reconstruction and renovation of, and the construction of improvements, additions and upgrades to various District buildings and facilities and the sites thereof, the purchase of original furnishings, equipment, machinery and apparatus required in connection with the purposes for which such buildings, facilities and sites are used, all to include site, access, parking, demolition, utility, mechanical, plumbing and electrical improvements as well as payment of professional fees and all other necessary costs incidental to such work, and expend therefore a total sum not to exceed $2,815,000, which is estimated to be the total maximum cost thereof, and pay for the project by using $1,000,000 from the Capital Reserve approved by the District’s voters in May of 2022 and by the levy of a tax which is hereby voted for the project in the amount of $1,815,000, subject to available State Aid, which tax shall be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education and in anticipation of the collection of such tax, bonds and notes of the District are Classroom Doors hereby authorized to be issued at one time, or from time to Refurbishment or complete time, in the principal amount not to exceed $1,815,000, and a tax is hereby voted to pay the principal and interest on said replacement of classroom obligations when due? doors to enhance security. Example of PROPOSITION #2 secure door CAPITAL RESERVE replacement Shall the Board of Education of the Union Springs Central School District be authorized to establish a new ten-year capital reserve pursuant to Section 3651 of the Education Law in an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 to be used for renovations and additions to all district facilities, including the purchase of equipment, technology upgrades, classroom equipment and/or school infrastructure equipment, security and safety improvement, site development, athletic fields, plumbing, storm and sanitary sewers, boiler, driveways, and parking lots, such reserve fund to be funded from (i) year-end budget surplus funds known as unassigned fund balance, as available, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter for the term of the reserve fund, (ii) transfers of excess monies from Board of Education designated reserves, (iii) amounts from budgetary appropriations from time to Window Fortification time, and (iv) New York State Aid received and made available Intrusion resistant film to at grade windows and doors by the Board of Education from time to time, all as permitted by law? to hinder intrusion. | | Union Springs Central School District 239 Cayuga Street (315) 889-4101 3
| UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPITAL PROJECT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS Home of the FOLLOW US: Wolves! @UnionSpringsCSD @UnionSpringsHS @UnionSpringsMS Dr. Jarett Powers Board of @UnionSpringsAJ Superintendent @USCSD_Wolves P: (315) 889-4100 Education F: (315) 889-4108 Robin McKay, Board President Check out our Valerie Castiglia Daniel Testa, Vice President new website! Secretary to the Superintendent Jeffrey Culver P: (315) 889-4100 Ann Marie Daum www.unionspringscsd.org F: (315) 889-4108 Ross Lawton Mike Wurster Michael Parker CONTACT US: Assistant Superintendent Carol Quill 239 Cayuga Street P: (315) 889-4157 Barry Schwarting F: (315) 889-4156 Erin Tones Union Springs, NY 13160 Phone: (315) 889-4101 ABSENTEE BALLOTS Fax: (315) 889-4108 Applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) from the District Clerk. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the vote if the ballot is to be mailed, or the day before the vote if the ballot is to be delivered in person. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. prevailing time on the day of the vote. To request an application/ballot, call District Clerk Valerie Castiglia at (315) 889-4100 or www.citiboces.org/publicrelations email [email protected]. UNION SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT US Postage Paid 239 Cayuga Street Union Springs, NY Union Springs, NY 13160 Permit #3 Non-Profit Organization ********ECRWSS******** Rural Route or Boxholder