How can I provide feedback or comments?
Is the building safe for students?
- This question was answered by District Principal Greg Marino when asked by the Williston Observer:
“Williston Central School is certainly safe for students to occupy in the fall,” he added. “The school building undergoes annual fire inspections to assure it is safe for occupancy from a fire standpoint,” he said, and given the years of construction, each of the various sections of the building, erected in 1949, 1954, 1959, 1966 and 1991, were built without sprinklers. “Though this was an approved design at the time of construction, current codes would indicate that the building have a sprinkler system. So in a large-scale renovation project, the recommendation is to include this system to further improve safety and protect the asset of the structure. ”As far as fire safety, he said the best defense was planning and preparation, that staff and students be “well-practiced in our evacuation procedures — which I am pleased to report we are.”
Why weren't these issues addressed sooner?
- Many maintenance issues were resolved over time. Larger issues that required more money than the annual budget could cover were postponed until a bond could be put together.
Why is a bond needed to pay for these renovations?
- The amount of work needing done far surpasses what an annual budget could cover and what is in the Facilities Fund. Thus, the school board will take the total amount to voters for a bond approval November 8th, 2016.
Why is this being proposed now? (Why not earlier, why can't it wait?)
- Talk of significant improvements at WCS have been underway for years. The state of the building finally got to where certain improvements could no longer be delayed making the time ideal now.
What will the impact on my taxes be if the bond passes, and over how many years?
- The $19.85 million dollar bond is a 20 year term, and should cost Williston taxpayers approximately $160.00/year for a house appraised at $400,000.
- While the overall tax increase from the additional cost of the bond is the $160 per year for a $400,000 home, due to benefits of consolidation homeowners tax bills are forecasted to go down year to year.
Given the extensive list of needed improvements, why not tear down and build new?
- Preliminary estimates to tear down and build an entirely new school with similar features are projected to be as high as $53 million. There is a solid foundation at WCS to build upon, which is why renovations are recommended rather than a tear down. A tear down and rebuild would also require the district to relocate playing fields and other outdoor facilities to accommodate the space required to keep the current school open while the new school was built.
Is this project just for WCS? How about ABS?
- This project is solely for WCS. Improvements to ABS were considered, but given the scope of work needed at WCS, the current bond will focus on WCS.
How long will the construction phase of this project last? When would it start and end? Will instruction during the school year be impacted by the project?
- The construction phase duration will depend on the final scope decided upon, but the rough estimate for work is a year or two. Work would begin right away and finish within that two year approximate period. Class instruction during the school year will not be impacted.
Why weren't these issues addressed in the annual budget under "Operations and Maintenance"?
- There are funds allocated for Operations and Maintenance in the annual school budget. However, that approximately $1MM budget allocation covers custodial / maintenance staff salary and benefits, utilities costs, and other services like plowing, plumbing and electrical. That leaves a relatively small portion remaining for actual building repairs and and the replacement of aging systems, like heating and ventilation. The Board strives to present a fiscally responsible budget to the community each year. That annual budget must be used for the year it is approved for. We have no way of 'saving' for high cost repairs. Instead, we use a 5-year maintenance plan to budget for items like carpet replacement, roof repair, and replacement of critical items as needed. Over time, items that are too expensive to replace or repair via the annual budget become 'deferred'. It is these deferred items that the bond will address.
- Here is a breakdown of Operations and Maintenance expenses for the 2016-2017 budget year:
- Salary and Benefits: $543,000
- Utilities: $256,000
- Professional Services (plumbing, Electrical, Snow removal, etc.) : $70,050
- Supplies: $44,650
- Repairs and Maintenance: $60,000
- Buildings and Ground Improvements: $25,000
- Equipment $15,000
- Misc. fees and expenses: $2,438
- Total Operations and Maintenance = $1,016,138 or approximately 6% of the annual budget.
For any unanswered questions, please contact the Williston School Board at wsdschoolboard@cssu.org.