Our community can vote on our Capital Project this Thursday, October 15 from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the High School gym lobby.
This project expands Jefferson Elementary to meet growing enrollment and invests in the infrastructure of our school campuses.
Adding a dozen classrooms, a music room, and a second gym at Jefferson is a major focus of the project, as well as expanding the school’s lunchroom. Fifth grade would also return to Jefferson.
Replacing the Bus Repair Garage with a Transportation Center addition is another project focus. This provides our mechanics better access to service buses, brings our team together, and resolves a challenge with the existing garage’s bus lift.
The Capital Project invests in our campuses with new auditorium seating, resurfacing tennis courts, adding LED lights at Sabre Field, replacing school roofs, new water and electrical mains, and other infrastructure improvements.
“We’re really excited about this project. It provides our growing school community the room we need and invests smartly in our schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Thomas Reardon. “It also allows 5th grade to return to an elementary setting, something we think our families will be excited about.”
The estimated cost of the Capital Project is $54.3 million. If approved by our community, the project would increase taxes for a $300,000 full value home by an average of $86.60 a year in 2029, 2030 and 2031. With Basic STAR savings, the average cost would lower to about $77.94. With Enhanced STAR, the average cost would be approximately $61.05.
Schalmont would receive 68.2% state building aid on most of the project’s cost. Schalmont would also use $7 million from its Capital Reserve Fund, a fund that voters approved in 2024 to fund future projects.
If the Capital Project is approved, construction would begin around January 2028 and finish August 2030. The process is lengthy due to design, State Education Department review, bidding, and construction.
More details are available in this newsletter. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Reardon (treardon@schalmont.net or 518-355-9200).