Fresh off the defeat of its $26.76 million building proposition last month, the Board of Education is considering putting a scaled-down project before voters in May.

Board members on Monday did not take any formal votes but indicated they wanted to bring back a proposal that would cover general maintenance projects like roof repairs and address the district’s deteriorated track.

In December voters rejected a project that involved expansion of the high school library, construction of an artificial turf field with bleachers at the high school and renovations of classrooms at the middle and high school library.

The district has a $935,000 Expanding Our Children’s Education and Learning (EXCEL) grant that it was going to put toward the project. Board member Pamela Carbone said she did not want to lose the state EXCEL money so the district should craft a project that has no local tax impact.

“The public spoke very clearly that they don’t have the money right now to do anything as far as a capital project for the district at this time,” she said.

A total of 454 people filled out an exit survey school officials had distributed at the polls. Among the key reasons for opposing the project were the economy, which was cited by 72 percent of “no” voters and the artificial turf field — cited by 69 percent of that same group. Also, people said that the project should have been split into separate propositions.

Superintendent Susan Swartz said if the board puts together a new proposition, she recommended addressing the items on the district’s building conditions survey, which included upgrading bathrooms and replacing lockers.

Also in need of upgrades are the roofs at three elementary schools and the district’s technology hardware.
In addition, she would like to repair the six-lane track. Currently, the district cannot hold Section II athletic events on the track because of its poor condition.

Board member Ben Conlon said he believes the survey showed that people supported many of the items in the December proposition including installing solar panels on the roof at Sacandaga Elementary School as part of a pilot project. He also suggested putting multiple propositions before voters. “I believe that we should give the community choices.” President Margaret Smith agreed that the district should address the maintenance needs. “We should try to get as much of the work done as we can,” she said. Board members were also supportive of doing the proposition at the same time as the May budget vote.

KINDERGARTEN
In other business, the board had a very brief discussion of a proposal to go to full-day kindergarten. The district now has transitional kindergarten, where students go for a half day for half of the year and then a full day for the rest of the year.

If the district makes the switch, it would be eligible for about $800,000 in state aid for next year only. However, Swartz cautioned the board about making this decision on that fact alone.

The board postponed further discussion until after it hears from the public at a forum set for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Sacandaga Elementary School. It will then discuss the issue further at its regular meeting on Jan. 26 at Lincoln Elementary School.