BOE approves Feb. 13 referendum vote

On Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023 our Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution advancing a Feb. 13, 2024 Capital Project referendum vote. This is the second of three planned referenda intended to modernize and improve learning spaces across the district.

If passed, the $47.17M project would continue our investment in renovating and expanding Van Antwerp Middle School as the future home of grades 5-6, complete significant work at all five elementary school campuses and address weatherproofing needs on the exterior wall of the high school auditorium. 

We’ve developed a financial plan for this work to minimize the impact on our local tax base. If approved, the project carries a tax levy increase of 0.85% (equating to a $42.17 annual increase on a house with a market value of $300,000). The financial plan maximizes State Aid and utilizes the district’s Capital Reserve and energy rebates secured through National Grid.

The proposal was guided by recommendations from a nearly 20-member Capital Project Community Advisory Committee that included parents, community members, teachers and staff collectively representing all schools in the district.

Following the December recess, there will be multiple opportunities to learn about the proposed projects, tour the spaces that would be improved and ask questions about the planned work.

  • Town Hall meeting at Niskayuna High School – Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 – 7:00 p.m.

  • Town Hall meeting at Van Antwerp Middle School  – Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024 – 6:30 p.m.

  • Elementary School Tours (Birchwood, Craig, Glencliff, Hillside, Rosendale) – Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024 – 6:30 p.m.

All of this work is motivated by a shared desire with our community to ensure that our current and future students have access to world-class educational facilities and programs. We are grateful for the ongoing community support and are committed to providing outstanding stewardship of our schools for the next generation of learners at Niskayuna.