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Grand Island Central School District: Second forum scheduled to discuss possible $25 million capital project

Sat, Oct 13th 2018 06:55 am
The Grand Island Central School District will host a second community forum to share the preliminary plans for a possible $22 million to $25 million capital project.
The Board of Education decided Monday at its monthly meeting to host a forum from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, in the Little Theater of Veronica E. Connor Middle School, 1100 Ransom Road.
Trustee Glenn Bobeck voiced his desire for another community forum saying the board wanted more input. The second forum is intended to gather more public opinion on the project in a similar fashion to a session held Oct. 4 at Grand Island High School. (See the Oct. 5 edition of the Island Dispatch for a recap of that meeting.)
The proposed work would include safety and security enhancements to Grand Island High School and Connor Middle School, air conditioning for buildings in the district, and athletic turf behind the high school/middle school complex on Ransom Road. The project was developed by the district's Capital Project Planning Committee, which met for almost a year.
The presentation will include information on the scope of work that is necessary to upgrade school buildings in an effort to improve safety, security and the overall conditions of district facilities. Representatives from Young and Wright Architectural, as well as Campus Construction, will be available at the session.
A question period after the presentation will allow community members to comment or ask questions.
Monday, during regular BOE meeting, Superintendent of Schools Brian Graham briefed the board on community comments from the first forum. Graham estimated 11 or 12 dozen members of the community attended. Comments included complaints about Huth Road Elementary School's auditorium and lighting in the school parking lot. Graham reported that adding LED lights in all district parking lots is in the plans. To replace seats and paint the paint floor in the Huth Road School auditorium (350 seats) would cost in the neighborhood of $100,000, he said.
Another resident at the first forum inquired about portable bleachers appropriate for a new turf field. Graham said two sets of 50-person portable bleachers would cost in the range of $24,000 to $30,000.
The board voted unanimously Monday to start a state environmental quality review process for the project. Bobeck reminded board members and the public Monday that passage of a motion to start the SEQR process does not commit the district to doing any work.
State money would ultimately fund about 74 percent of the cost of a project should it be passed in a referendum by voters, Graham has said.
Preliminary figures estimate the tax impact on a $180,000 home is an increase of around $15 to $16 a year, Graham said.
•••••
The Grand Island Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, in the Little Theater of Veronica Connor Middle School, 1100 Ransom Road.
Board of Education Trustees
  • President: Ashli Dreher
  • Vice President: Susan Marston
  • Trustees: Glenn Bobeck, Robin McCreary, Joy LaMarca and Donna Tomkins
  • Superintendent: Dr. Brian Graham
  • District Clerk: Jude Kuehne
Send comments to the board at [email protected].

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