Frequently Asked Questions

A capital project allows voters to decide whether a school district can sell bonds to finance long-lasting infrastructure improvements that go beyond regular maintenance and repairs. This option provides New York State school districts with a fiscally responsible way to spread construction costs over time, like how a homeowner uses a line of credit to finance a home improvement project. It allows districts to access state aid to offset local costs. For KCSD, that aid would pay approximately 76.7% of eligible portions of the proposition’s estimated costs. 

This capital improvement project is a smart financial strategy to continue the District’s path of fiscal responsibility. Over the years, we have used funds from the operating budget for regular maintenance and repairs. Some of our schools have old equipment and facilities, making repairs challenging. Sometimes parts are obsolete and repairs are not possible or expensive. Capital project funding allows us to make the most critical, long-term upgrades and leverage  approximately 76.7% state aid to offset the impact on local taxes.

New York law prevents a school district from spending more than what voters approve. The cost estimate includes all of the necessary elements, from professional and permit fees to site work and finishing components. It also includes a contingency in case costs are higher than estimated, and that’s because the ballot acts like a promise to voters of how much can be spent with their approval. It is based on a conservative estimate of costs as the District’s architect, construction managers, and financial advisers protect against market fluctuations.

Additionally, KCSD has a history of fiscal responsibility. The District has completed many capital projects in the past 10 years, with a record of being on time and under budget. The recently completed renovation at Kingston High School is a great example with a final cost about $10 million under the original budget.

The voter-approved bond in 2018 focused on urgent repairs for building equipment, systems and features that were at their end-of-life and at risk of failing. The proposed capital project is more forward-thinking to keep our schools sustainable for long-term use. For example, the Miller Middle School theater was in poor condition before a complete renovation funded by the 2018 bond; now the same comprehensive work is proposed for Bailey Middle School to keep it in good shape for student use. Improvements in this proposition were carefully selected to protect past investments and position KCSD for a future of continued academic success and fiscal responsibility.

Kingston City School District wants all residents to learn about this important proposition and offers these opportunities:

• Saturday,  April 15 from 10 a.m. to noon – Coffee and Conversation at The Mount Academy (1001 Broadway in Esopus)

• Monday, April 17 at 6 p.m. virtually via Teams – Town Hall Budget Forum/Building Presentation

• Tuesday, April 18 at 7 p.m. – Board of Education Meeting in the Board Room at Meagher Preschool, 21 Wynkoop Place in Kingston)

• Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m.  –  A community-wide virtual forum was recorded; watch that from the District's YouTube channel.

• Wednesday, May 3 at 6 p.m. – Budget Hearing in the Board Room at Meagher Preschool, 21 Wynkoop Place in Kingston)

• Saturday, May 6 from 10 a.m. to noon – Coffee and Conversation at George Washington Elementary School (67 Wall Street in Kingston); at noon, participants will be able to see some of the areas in that school where improvements are proposed.

The proposition would enhance almost every one of our schools, except Kingston High School and Meagher Preschool, which were both recently updated.  Key elements include: 

• Improving indoor air quality through ventilation and air conditioning

• Replacing windows, roofing and other areas to preserve our buildings

• Modernizing entryways at several schools with upgraded exterior doors and interior lobbies  

• Upgrading restrooms, most of which are original to the building

• Continuing the District’s mission to improve barrier-free access

• Solving parking/traffic flow issues and addressing paving/sidewalks

• Renovating outdated auditoriums and elementary school stages

• Other projects across almost every building in the Kingston City School District

New York State school districts are required to work with professionals every five years to survey the infrastructure of their schools and develop facilities plans. These plans protect the taxpayers’ investments in the schools by identifying infrastructure issues early and planning for how to make long-term upgrades. KCSD's five-year Building Condition Survey was completed in 2020 and provided a roadmap for completing capital improvements across nine school buildings.

The survey was considered by a 30-member Facilities Committee – a Board of Education subcommittee that also includes teachers, maintenance staff, and administrators. The District's professional advisers, including architects from KSQ Design, helped determine which projects were priorities for a capital project that could coincide with the payoff of a past investment. To provide equity of resources throughout the community, the Board adopted a plan to address all of those priority deficiencies. This approach also takes advantage of the financial savings associated with a large-scale effort. 

Our students learn best when they are educated in safe, healthy, and functional school environments. The 2020 Building Condition Survey identified areas for improvement that touch on nearly every facet of a student’s school day, including air conditioning and improved air quality in classrooms; safe pick-up and drop-off; and more barrier-free features for individuals with disabilities in and around our schools. The proposition includes modernized entryways at every school that does not have the kind of interior lobby that Kingston High School and some elementary schools have now. We know that all students will eventually go on to benefit from Kingston High School’s recent improvements, but this plan provides many of those same features to our other grade levels.

KCSD schools are valuable assets in our communities. Ongoing maintenance keeps them operating and serving students on a daily basis, while periodic capital improvements help keep them strong and efficient for long-term use. The proposition seeks to protect the community’s past investments in the buildings and continue the District's fiscal approach of a stable tax rate. Addressing improvements with a voter-approved capital project means capturing a significant share of funding through State Building Aid, whereas completing them through the operating budget would put 100% of the burden on local taxes. 

Projects in the proposition were selected because they are priorities for educational and financial reasons. Completing them as part of the project, rather than addressing them in stages over more time, reflects the Board of Education’s commitment to equity of resources. Meagher Preschool and Kingston High School have already been renovated; this proposition turns attention to every other school in the District. A comprehensive, large-scale effort has cost and time advantages.

Bailey Middle School is an aging school building that has been maintained for years but, like any space used daily, it shows wear. In addition, some of the building’s original designs from the 1960s no longer support today’s education methods, even with the update it received in 1992. We have worked to maintain the building with necessary repairs from the annual operating funds. The time has come when short-term repairs will no longer suffice, and major improvements would update and renovate this building so it can continue to serve our community for the long term.

With voter approval, all exterior windows and all interior wood doors at Bailey would be replaced. A roof beam in the gym would be reinforced and a section of roofing would be replaced. The kitchen would be renovated fully, and the loading dock would be refurbished. Worn and chipped terrazzo steps throughout the building would be restored. Outdated restrooms would be renovated, as would the auditorium. There is a significant shortage of parking space, and that problem would be solved with two extensions to existing lots.

KCSD understands our responsibility to provide the students we serve with a quality educational experience. To meet this goal, the proposition includes the following facility enhancements to support instruction: 

• Adding air conditioning, which will keep staff and students comfortable and better able to focus, with improved indoor air quality for better health.  

• Increasing accessibility at most schools in the District to bolster an inclusive and flexible learning environment that accommodates every student, staff member and visitor.  

• Renovating our school theaters to support our District’s ongoing commitment to providing arts education. 

Long-term savings features are part of this proposition. Modern Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are far more efficient than the older ones currently in our buildings. In various places, our schools use window and/or portable air conditioning units, for example, but more comprehensive systems are money-savers. HVAC upgrades would more efficiently circulate fresh air. Replacing older, drafty windows would improve energy efficiency by allowing rooms to hold consistent temperatures.

If voters approve the project, our architects  will carefully develop a detailed plan. KCSD would then solicit bids for renovations and construction. At this time, we anticipate construction work would begin as soon as 2024. Making these renovations at nine schools is projected to take four to five years to complete. Jeff Andrews, senior project manager at BBL Construction Services, explained how current market conditions affect the timeline during our virtual forum at about the 19:00 time mark. 

In accordance with specific state regulations, construction will not interrupt the instructional process and will not impact the health and safety of students and staff. Architects will work with the District and contracted professionals to make use of summertime opportunities and minimize work done while classes are in session.

Kingston High School just benefitted from a comprehensive renovation to create a 21st century learning environment. Final cost of that project was about $10 million under the original budget.

Meagher Preschool’s building was improved in 2014 and 2017 before welcoming students in its early childhood program starting in 2019. Improvements were completed at or under budget for those renovation projects.

The former Anna Devine Elementary School is still owned by KCSD, but no longer used for KCSD programming. It is leased to the Ulster BOCES to provide special education programs to elementary students from across the region.

While not included in the Capital Project, athletic field maintenance, upgrades, and long-term improvements are addressed through the annual operating budget within the Buildings and Grounds Department. Working with our architectural firm, KSQ Design, and the turf management company Tom Irwin Advisors (selected after multiple meetings with contractors), the District has developed a plan for both immediate improvements and a long-term maintenance program for our M. Clifford Miller Middle School athletic fields and the Albert Gruner Baseball Field. 

These fields will be available for use while Dietz Stadium and its surrounding facilities undergo an extensive renovation that is slated to begin at the end of June.

In April, the District was excited to learn that the construction timeline at Dietz Stadium was able to be shifted to the end of June without further delaying the project’s schedule. This change allows the District to use the Stadium for the remainder of this Spring Sports season and for the Class of 2023 graduation. 

You can stay informed about KCSD’s athletic fields and the Dietz Renovation Project through a regularly updated section on the KCSD website here: www.KingstonCitySchools.org/AthleticFields.

Evolutions in education have changed the way our schools are used, and that has put a strain on parking areas that were designed decades ago. Now, there are more faculty and support staff members and more of them travel between our buildings throughout the day to serve students. Without adequate parking, vehicles take up space on neighborhood streets. 

The proposition focuses not just on adding parking spaces at some schools, but also making it safer for pedestrians and vehicles to navigate around the buildings. At Graves Elementary School, for example, a redesigned traffic flow would enhance safety and efficiency by providing separate lanes for parents and buses. Updates that were already completed at John F. Kennedy and Miller Elementary Schools demonstrate the difference this kind of improvement can make. 

People who spoke at information sessions  in 2021 repeatedly requested air conditioning for the schools. Kingston High School and Meagher Preschool have it in all areas of those buildings, but other schools use portable units and window units for relief from high temperatures in certain areas. Hot weather is only one reason to replace that patchwork. Modern Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems pull in more fresh air than more simplistic units, and that air exchange is a key component in healthier learning environments. Filtered air is also helpful for people who have asthma or allergies, which can be year-round challenges. 

KCSD wants to improve access for everyone in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines. The project includes plans to add ADA-compliant hardware and handrails along interior stairways at numerous schools. This makes it easier for people to navigate. In addition, the plan includes: 

• A Wall Street ramp at George Washington (GW) Elementary School 

• A new elevator at GW and a better elevator at Miller Middle School 

• Portable lifts for the cafetoriums stages at Graves and JFK Elementary Schools, and a covered ramp to the modular classroom in the courtyard at Graves  

• Science room improvements at Miller, including ADA-compliant countertops, sinks and appliances, as well as ramps to replace the steps that lead outside

KCSD auditoriums and cafeteria stages provide space for students to showcase the performing arts and to gather for all-school assemblies. Improvements to these spaces will help keep them up to date so they can continue to serve our District for decades to come. The project includes:

• Theatrical lighting at Chambers to modernize the stage use of its cafetorium.

• A full restoration of the historic theater at GW, with a refurbished ceiling, fresh coat of paint and new seats. 

• Bailey’s outdated auditorium would get a complete overhaul including 625 new seats, rigging to secure lights, curtains and other equipment, and a modern sound booth. KCSD already completed a similar project at Miller. 

Armand Quadrini, managing partner of architectural firm KSQ Design, reviewed the proposed auditorium and theater renovations during the virtual forum held April 26. To hear him talk about that, and the way GW’s theater is different, watch the recording and advance to timestamp 01:23. 

Kingston City School District continually implements security measures, most of which do not require building alterations. With this capital project proposition, the District aims to move security to another level by remodeling the entryways of several schools. By upgrading exterior doors and re-arranging how students, staff and visitors enter, we can make our interior lobbies safer and more welcoming. Voter approval would enable the funding (76.7% of it from State Building Aid) for all KCSD schools to have entryways similar to what Kingston High School and some elementary buildings have now. 

This work would further strengthen KCSD’s commitment to safe environments. The District is midway through implementation of Phase 1 projects that were approved for the state-funding Smart Bond Initiative in 2022. That includes installing new door buzzers to control access; adding and upgrading our cameras; and replacing our fire and intrusion alarm systems. Those Phase 1 projects account for a $2.7 million investment – more than half of the funding KCSD was allocated. 

Estimated costs of the proposed projects are $162.5 million, and that encompasses professional and permit fees, site work, construction and finishing components. It includes a contingency in case costs are higher than estimated. Every cost that might be anticipated is included because New York law prevents a school district from spending more than what was listed in the proposition and approved by the voters. There can be no cost-overruns. A  funding strategy that includes State Building Aid reimbursement, savings reserved from past years, and pay-off of previous capital projects bring the estimated cost for local taxes to about $9 per month for a home assessed at $200,000, projected to begin in the 2025-2026 school year. (That amount varies by community.)

• This proposition would utilize four funding strategies to finance the $162.5 million total project costs: 

• State Aid: New York State Building Aid would pay approximately 76.7% of the total aidable costs of the $162.5 million project. This reimbursement by New York State would redirect our state tax dollars back to the local community. 

• Capital Reserve: Savings from past years accumulated in a voter-approved Capital Reserve will contribute $10 million to offset costs by reducing the amount the expenditures that will be paid for with long-term debt. 

• Debt Payoff: The District is nearing the final payoff for debt over the next five years from some previous capital project. That will help to reduce the tax impact over time as older debt payments drop off and others begin for the new capital project. 

• Local Tax Impact: An anticipated tax increase of about $9 per month is projected for a home assessed at $200,000, projected to begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

A Capital Reserve is a voter-approved, multi-year financial savings tool created to pay for large capital expenses. KCSD voters approved the establishment of a Capital Reserve in 2018 and it now has $10 million saved to help offset expenses related to this project. This money can be used to lower bond payments, thereby saving on interest costs, similar to the way an individual might make a down payment on a loan. 

Most projects in this proposition are expected to qualify for State Building Aid of approximately 76.7%. With voter approval of the May 16 proposition, New York State would redirect state tax dollars back to the communities of KCSD. 

The architects used their expertise to configure cost estimates based not just on current market conditions, but also a forecast for potential ups and downs. With voter approval of funding, they would take the next steps of establishing more detailed plans and, if necessary, modify them to stay within the voter-approved budget. Project costs cannot exceed the budget authorized by voters. Since it’s unlikely that costs would decrease in the future, the Board felt that a comprehensive project at this time was the best way to protect against inflation.

If costs end up being lower than the approved estimate, the District would borrow less and the anticipated tax increase would also be less. The District has completed many capital projects in the past 10 years, with a record of being on time and under budget. The recently completed renovation at Kingston High School is a great example with a final cost about $10 million under the original budget.

Now – You can submit an application for an absentee ballot. 

Sunday, April 30 – Absentee ballots can be picked up or mailed to you after this date. 

Tuesday, May 2 – If you are not registered to vote in New York State with an address in the KCSD, you can take steps to do so by this date.

Tuesday, May 9 – To receive an absentee ballot by mail, applications must be received by the School District Clerk by this date.  

Monday, May 15 – To receive an absentee ballot in person, applications must be received by the School District Clerk by this date.  

Tuesday, May 16 – Polls open in person from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Make sure to visit your assigned location by checking here. If you are voting using an absentee ballot, the ballot itself must be received in the office of the School District Clerk by 5 p.m. on this date.  

You are qualified to vote on Tuesday, May 16 if you are a United States citizen who is at least 18 years old and you are a resident of the Kingston City School District by April 17, 2023. You are not eligible if you are in prison for a felony conviction or be judged as mentally incompetent by a court, or if you can claim the right to vote elsewhere.  Check your voter registration status by using this search tool, and be sure you are registered by Tuesday, May 2.

Polls will open Tuesday, May 16 for this special election. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  and locations can be found on the Voter Info page. Note that Ulster County and the City of Kingston have recently made changes to their voting districts. These changes will not affect your school budget vote polling place. On May 16, please vote at the same polling place you have voted in previous elections.

To vote by absentee ballot, you may download and print the application (English/Spanish).  

• To return the application by mail, it must be received by the District Clerk by Tuesday, May 9, 2023, for the ballot to be mailed to you.  

• To deliver it in person, it must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on the day before the election to pick up the ballot.

Completed absentee ballots must be received in the office of the District Clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the election: Tuesday May 16, 2023. Find further details on our Voter Info page.  

Absentee ballot applications can be sent in at any time, however, the ballots themselves will not be mailed out/be able to pick up until after April 30. 

College students make up an important part of eligible voters and can participate in this special election to make their voices heard in the community. To request a voter registration form, there are multiple options:

• Call the Board of Elections at 845-334-5470.  

• Visit the Board office in person at 79 Hurley Ave. in Kingston. 

• Stop by the local post office, library, or town clerk’s office. 

Students may also download and print a voter registration form (English/Spanish) to mail or deliver in person before the deadline on Tuesday, May 2.  

If a poll worker does not find your name on the poll list on May 16, you have several options to ensure your right to vote.

• Verify that you are at the correct polling place. Use this search tool to check using your home address.  

• Contact the main Board of Elections number at (845) 334-5470.  

• Complete an affidavit ballot. You will be offered one whenever you believe yourself to be eligible to vote but cannot submit a regular ballot. These paper ballots are reviewed after the election by the Board of Elections to verify your eligibility.  

Learn more on our Voter Info page, where you will also find the NYS Voter’s Bill of Rights.