Dear Parent/Guardian:

Last February our district began an extensive review of our facility needs. The goal was to comprehensively and equitably address long-range school facility needs district-wide.

The process began with each building staff identifying and prioritizing facility needs and improvements. A District Facility Preservation Committee was formed comprised of representatives of parents, teachers, community, students, board of education, administration, the school architect, and a school planning consultant.

A number of factors necessitate reviewing and planning for facility renovation. There is a body of research that links modern and improved school facilities with student motivation and gains in student achievement. However, the major driver of this facility review is the ages of our school facilities — 1910, 1936, 1948, 1949, 1957, 1959, 1969, etc. There is an urgency to our review because of the ages of our buildings and their condition coupled with an increasing enrollment.

In preparation for the district wide review, student enrollment projections were developed projecting through 2009. The projections reflected new census information, enrollment history, anticipated new housing, and property transfers. The results indicated that our school district would experience a slow, but steady increase in enrollment, adding approximately 290 new students between 2003-04 and 2008-09. The enrollment projections suggest a space crunch likely beginning next September at two of our elementary schools and the high school. By 2009, all five elementary schools would have insufficient space.

Adding permanent additional classroom space is not a quick solution since it takes many months for passage of a bond resolution, development of plans, bidding and construction. It is unlikely that new permanent space could be occupied until September, 2008. The school district in anticipation is reviewing temporary solutions to this problem. Numerous solutions are being explored. A recommendation to the Board of Education will likely not be made until late spring, 2005.

In determining the need for additional space, the committee is also examining the impact of different elementary class size guidelines and full day kindergarten. The analysis includes the current guideline (grades K-1 = 24 students; grades 2-3 = 26; and grades 4-5 = 28), the recommended guideline from the Elementary Class Size Committee that reduces the guideline by five students at each grade level; and a mid-point guideline that falls near the middle of the two other guidelines. Regardless of guideline used, our current buildings are at full capacity and increased enrollment could not be accommodated without significantly increasing class size beyond present guidelines or increasing the number of learning spaces.

The district committee still has much work to be done. It is now in the process of exploring relevant and realistic options for school facilities, including examining alternative building configurations, conversions, and locations. The committee will need to determine the number of needed additional classroom spaces. However, the largest cost items will be renovating the original envelopes of buildings including heating, lighting, communication systems, windows, ventilation, roofs, etc.

Some community members and school staff have inquired why we are not simply building new facilities. Some question why we are investing money in repairing old facilities. Although no decisions have yet to be made on new or renovated space, there are a number of variables to consider. Many of our buildings maintain a rich history or tradition. Some of our buildings represent historical landmarks linking our past with a rapidly changing community. Financially, New York State aids a portion of the building or renovation cost to the school district to offset local school tax. However, a new free standing school facility receives significantly less building aid than when a school district renovates or adds onto an existing school building.

The next six to eight weeks are critical for the district committee. Many decisions need to be made regarding the alternatives that will be brought forward and shared with the Board of Education. Each of the alternatives will include a list of advantages and disadvantages as well as estimated costs. Initial district wide cost estimates for this proposed project are based upon incorporating all identified needs and wants submitted by stakeholders. The total district wide cost estimate well exceeds any previous school construction project in our district. Obviously, the district committee will need to carefully review and prioritize the facility needs and it is unlikely that every identified need or want will be able to be addressed in this process.

The district committee tentatively will present to the board in December. The board will review the facility alternatives at a series of meetings and community forums. Tentatively in June 2005, a general scope of the project and bond referendum amount will be approved by the Board of Education. A public referendum would be planned for late 2005 or early 2006.

While much work remains, it is exciting planning the future educational facilities of the district. Please contact my office if you have any questions or suggestions (via e-mail at kbaughman@niskyschools.org or by telephone at 377-4666, Ext. 206).

We encourage everyone to utilize the district web site to be connected to this project — go to www.niskayunaschools.org and follow the “Facility Review process” link on the right side of the main page. Minutes of the committee’s meetings are posted on the web site, as is a schedule of future facility review committee meetings and public forums. Please feel free to attend any of these meetings.

Thank you for your interest, input and support in this planning process. We will contact you again in the coming months to update progress on this important issue.

Sincerely,
Dr. Kevin Baughman,
Superintendent of Schools

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