Voters go to polls Tuesday for Spencerport schools project

Residents in the Spencerport Central School District will vote on the proposed 2007 $12.4 million Capital Project on Tuesday, March 27 from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. at the District Office Building, 71 Lyell Avenue in Spencerport.

The proposed renovation and facilities improvement plan will use $9.3 million in regular building aid, $1.3 million in special EXCEL (Expanding our Children's Education and Learning) reimbursement aid from New York state, and $1.8 million of the district's capital reserves.

The project includes work at each school along with improvements to the soccer field and the addition of lights at the football stadium. Using the two forms of state building aid, the $12.4 million project can be completed with essentially no local tax rate increase, according to district officials.

"As I spoke to about a dozen community and school groups over the past month, you may have heard me call it a 'coupon.' In essence, the state is giving us money toward this work," Superintendent of Schools MaryAnn Kermis wrote in a press release.

On February 6, the Spencerport Board of Education approved a $12.4 million 2007 Capital Project that covers work at all six schools. "The projects for this proposal are the next step in the district's long-range, prioritized, Facilities Maintenance Plan, developed with assistance from the community volunteer Facilities Task Force," Kermis wrote. "Spencerport normally receives 84.2 percent state aid for approved building projects. The state reimburses 100 percent of the cost of EXCEL work. The district is leveraging $1.2 million in EXCEL and $1.8 million in capital reserve funds to complete this project at essentially no local cost."

District leaders presented information about the project to more than a dozen community and school groups. Information is available at www.SpencerportSchools.org or by calling Alan Getter, assistant superintendent for business, 349-5110.

March 25, 2007