The Board of Education is considering a 2024 Capital Project. Proposed local share funding would come from District reserves, which means the work would be able to be done with little to no impact on the taxpayer.
Valley Central School District voters approved a $46,595,000 capital project in two propositions on May 16, 2023. A proposition to allow the Board of Education to establish Capital Reserve Fund 2023 was also passed. Find more information on these proposition’s here.
Below are the updates and the current phases of the Capital Projects outlined in the 2023 budget. All voter approved projects have been separated into three phases.
Phase 1: Project Approval
The following projects are in Phase 1.
Administrative Building:
- Replacement of electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
- Add carbon monoxide alarms.
- Add emergency lighting in toilet rooms.
Berea Elementary School:
- Office/classroom relocations.
- Construction of security vestibule to establish a single point of entry.
- Main office toilet renovations.
- Replacement of main entrance stairway doors and wall assemblies.
- Removal and replacement of signage.
- Exterior walls/columns repair work.
East Coldenham Elementary School:
- Construction of security vestibule to establish a single point of entry.
- Exterior walls/columns repair work.
Maybrook/ALC:
- Renovation of main office, SRO office and security room.
- Construction of security vestibule to establish a single point of entry.
Montgomery Elementary School:
- Construction of security vestibule to establish a single point of entry.
- Exterior walls/columns repair work.
Valley Central High School:
- Boiler Conversion.
- Replacement of classroom UV lights.
- Construction of security vestibule to establish a single point of entry.
- Replacement of electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls.
- Removal and replacement of chiller.
- Replacement of tennis court.
- Add lighting to the weight room.
- Exterior walls/columns repair work.
Valley Central Middle School:
- Construction of security vestibule to establish a single point of entry.
- Replacement of south wing windows.
- Exterior walls/columns repair work.
Walden Elementary School:
- Construction of security vestibule to establish a single point of entry.
- Office/classroom relocations.
- Exterior walls/columns repair work.
Phase 2: Planning/Design
The following projects are in Phase 2:
Berea Elementary School:
- Add air conditioning in the cafeteria.
- Replacement of classroom UV lights.
East Coldenham Elementary School:
- Replacement of electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
- Replacement of classroom UV lights.
- Full replacement of the fire alarm system.
- Abatement and replacement of tile flooring.
Maybrook/ALC:
- Full replacement of the fire alarm system.
- Water infiltration repairs at foundation of northeast corner of building.
- Coating/protectant of fire escapes.
- Add emergency lighting.
Montgomery Elementary School:
- Replacement of electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning controls.
- Replacement of classroom UV lights.
- Replacement of cafeteria AHU unit with cooling
- Replacement of gymnasium & library AHU.
- Replacement of electric panels.
- Boiler replacements.
- Replacement of water supply system strainers.
Valley Central High School:
- Renovation of science rooms.
- Renovation of toilet rooms.
Walden Elementary School:
- Replacement of fire alarm system.
- Add emergency lighting in toilet rooms.
Phase 3: Project In Process- Construction
The following projects are in Phase 3:
Valley Central Middle School:
- Removal and replacement of signage.
- Renovation of technology rooms including dust collection system.
- Classroom renovations.
East Coldenham Elementary School:
- ADA toilet renovations.
Montgomery Elementary School:
- Sidewalk repairs.
- Exterior stairs work.
- Exterior doors replacement.
- Library renovation.
December 2023: Phase I of the 2023 Capital Project has been submitted to SED for approval.
Proposition 2 I Proposition 3 I Proposition 4
The 2022 Building Condition Survey identified over $150 Million in needed attention around our district. It is the goal of the district to prioritize the work and address it through a series of capital projects and to keep the impact as small as possible by utilizing Capital Reserve funds and debt expiration dates.
Valley Central School District proposed a $46,595,000 capital project in two propositions that will align school facilities with the district’s mission and long-term goals for voters to decide on May 16, 2023.
Improvements were identified and prioritized using the 2022 state-mandated Building Condition Survey to address health and safety, school security, aging infrastructure, and educational programming needs.
Valley Central’s financial advisors estimate that the District will receive 75.8% in State Aid back on the cost of both propositions. In addition, the District will apply $9,750,000 from the 2019 Capital Reserve Fund and $3,945,000 of fund balance to lessen the cost to taxpayers.
Proposition 2
Fast Facts:
Will not exceed $31,980,000
Expected State Aid: 75.8%
Capital Reserve Fund: $9,750,000
Fund Balance: $935,000
Proposition 2 is estimated to have NO TAX IMPACT.
Vote Passed 919 yes (71.4%)/368 no (28.6%)
It will provide new secured vestibules in our school buildings and provide upgrades to building infrastructure throughout the District.
Safety and Security
• New security vestibules district-wide
• Replace select fire alarm systems
The safety of our students is a top priority for Valley Central. To enhance building security, Proposition 2 will create security vestibules at all schools. This will provide a double set of doors with an enclosed greeter window within the vestibule for personnel to check visitor credentials before allowing entry.
Guidelines from the Department of Homeland Security recommend that all K-12 schools have a security vestibule. Not all main entrances at our buildings have enclosed security vestibules with an adjacent greeter window for security officers to properly screen visitors before entering the building.
Infrastructure
• Renovate select toilet rooms
• Install emergency lighting in select areas
• Improve building signage and wayfinding
• Replace high school tennis courts
• Remove stepped flooring in 8th-grade classrooms
• Upgrade toilet rooms for ADA compliance
• Repair sidewalks
• Replace 1968 electrical panels
• Stabilize the retaining wall at Walden Elementary School
• Relocate 4th-grade classrooms at Walden Elementary
School
To address aging infrastructure at schools reaching 50 to 100
years old, this project will replace sidewalks, exterior doors,
windows, and fire alarm systems that are nearing or beyond their
useful life. Bathroom upgrades at East Coldenham Elementary
School will improve accessibility and enhance ADA compliance.
This project will replace the tennis courts at Valley Central High
School as two of the six courts are shut down due to cracking and
deterioration of the court surface. This replacement will provide a
safe, level playing surface for athletes, physical education classes,
and community use.
Boilers and HVAC
Replace boilers
• Replace unit ventilators
• Replace pneumatic with digital controls
• Replace chillers
• Install air conditioning in select areas
• Replace select air handling units
• Replace radiators, piping, and ductwork at East
Coldenham Elementary School
The boilers within several school buildings are beyond their
useful life and require a complete replacement. New unit
ventilators with digital controls rather than pneumatic controls
will provide a more comfortable learning environment and
improve the indoor air quality of our schools.
Building Envelope
• Repair exterior walls, columns, and masonry
• Replace select windows
• Replace exterior doors
• Upgrade exterior stairs for improved life safety
Proposition 3
Fast Facts
Proposition 3 can only pass if Proposition 2 passes
Will not exceed $14,615,000
Expected State Aid: 75.8%
Fund Balance: $3,010,000
The impact of Proposition 3 on a taxpayer with a full-value home of $400,000 is estimated to be about $2 per month.
Vote Passed 871 yes (67.8%)/414 no (22.2%)
Educational Programming
• Renovate second-floor high school science classrooms
• Renovate middle school technology classrooms
HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE CLASSROOM RENOVATIONS
The high school science classrooms have not been updated since the early 1990s and have experienced a lot of use and wear since then. Proposition 3 will renovate second-floor science classrooms with new finishes, casework, and flexible lab furniture to support all sciences taught at Valley Central.
MIDDLE SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY CLASSROOM RENOVATIONS
The middle school technology classrooms are also outdated and have not been updated since the early 1990s. These classrooms will be renovated to better reflect the rapid changes in technology, align with New York State Technology Standards, and provide flexible spaces that support 21st-century learning.
Safety and Security
• Relocate main office at Berea Elementary School
• Relocate kindergarten classrooms to current
To enhance security at Berea Elementary School, Proposition 3 will move the current first-floor Kindergarten classrooms and relocate the main office to the entrance of the school.
This will allow visitors to move directly into the main office from the security vestibule and move classroom space away from the main entrance.
Proposition 4: Establish a new Capital Reserve Fund (2023)
Establish the VCSD Capital Reserve Fund 2023 with a cap of $15 Million to expire in ten years.
Vote Passed 878 yes (68.7%)/401 no (31.3%)
The 2019 Capital Reserve Fund was established with a limit of $10 Million which is being expended for Capital Project- Proposition #2 to cover the local share of the project. Since it would be expended, the district would need a new Capital Reserve Fund to continue to save funds for future Capital Projects.
Completed Building Projects – Capital Project 2021
New High School Parking Lot with Enhanced Lighting 2022
Auditorium Lighting Project 2022
Natatorium Ventilation 2023
Outdoor Restroom Facilities 2023
Other Completed Projects
Stadium Scoreboard Installation 2023
Walden Soffit Repair
Administration Building Storefront
Find more information about all of our buildings here.
Capital Project FAQ’s
How is the work identified?
This work was identified by the community’s request for improvements to make our buildings more secure and by prioritizing work needed from our State-mandated Building Conditions Survey, which is a comprehensive study of facilities that must be completed every five years. VC’s latest Building Conditions Survey was completed in 2022 and identified approximately $150 Million in needed repair/attention. VC’s goal is to prioritize the work and address it through a series of capital projects to keep the impact as small as possible by utilizing Capital Reserve funds and debt expiration dates. The District assembled a team to develop a plan to address our highest priorities while trying to have the least impact on the local share of the debt payment. The team included the District’s architects (CS Arch) and Project Managers (Palumbo Group), along with the District’s financial advisors.
What does Local Share mean?
The local share is the amount of money that the taxpayers contribute toward the District’s debt payments to pay off bonds (money borrowed to pay for capital projects). The goal is to plan projects that coincide with the expiration or reduction of previous bonds, as best we can.
Didn’t we just complete a Capital Project?
Yes, and the projects addressed by the 2021 Capital Project are near completion. The 2021 Capital Project addressed traffic safety at HS/MS, the rebuilding of the high school parking lot with the introduction of better lighting for safety and the building of outdoor restroom facilities for the HS/MS fields. Work on the bus lanes should be completed by September 2023. To address the many needs identified in our Building Conditions Survey, the District is choosing to do a series of small Capital Projects coinciding with debt retirement and capital reserve funds. The 2023 Capital Project is now at the State Education Department to be reviewed.
If approved, what is the timeline?
Upon approval, plans must be submitted to the State Education Department for review and approval. Typically this can take up to one year.
Once approved by the State, work is put out to bid through our project management.
After bids are approved, construction can begin. The entire process, from the authorization vote to the beginning of work, is typically 12-14 months. The district anticipates work on the 2023 Capital Project to begin by Summer 2024.