News from the Canajoharie Central School District October 2017 Classroom Chronicle Security grant to help district New visitor identification equipment to be purchased The Canajoharie Central School District received a $50,000 grant, secured by New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, to continue to improve safety and security measures across its three schools. As a parent of two children, I know how important it is to have peace of mind when our children are at school. When it comes to our children, safety comes first, said Santabarbara, who represents New York s 111th Assembly District that comprises all of Montgomery and parts of Schenectady and Albany counties. Santabarbara began work to secure the grant after parents contacted him with concerns over a See DISTRICT RECEIVES GRANT on PAGE 2 Capital project vote Dec. 5 Wood warps. Stone cracks. Roofs leak. Lights go out. Technologies improve. Over time, buildings need renovations and updates. The same wear and tear you encounter at home also happens to aging school buildings. That s why Canajoharie Central School District residents are asked to vote on two propositions on Dec. 5, including a $4,986,750 renovation project. See CAPITAL PROJECT VOTE on PAGE 4 Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara speaks about the importance of school safety at East Hill Elementary School on Sept. 6. He secured a grant for new safety equipment and presented it to Superintendent Deborah Grimshaw. Calendar Nov. 10......... Veterans Day observed; no school Nov. 13................... MS fruit sale kick-off Nov. 15..... Public meeting about capital project, HS Nov. 16..... Public meeting about capital project, MS Nov. 16, 17........ K-5 Parent teacher conferences Nov. 16.............. Middle School report cards Nov. 21..................... Early release drill Nov. 22-24......... Thanksgiving break; no school Dec. 5, 12-9 p.m., HS......... Capital project vote Dec. 5, 7, 12.................. Winter concerts Dec. 25-Jan. 1.......... Holiday break, No school Jan. 2........................ Classes resume www.canajoharieschools.org Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 1 10/16/2017 2:39:44 PM
October 2017 IN OUR SCHOOLS Members of the Canajoharie High School community were recognized for their food drive efforts by Montgomery County officials on Sept. 26. #Feed2Fill aims to fill buses with food, bring Jeter to Canajoharie The effort to fill two school buses with non-perishable donated food for local pantries is on. The drive was organized by the Canajoharie High School Student-Teacher Action Rally (STAR) and donations can be dropped off at the high school at any time. As part of the drive, people are encouraged to use the hash-tag #Feed2Fill on social media to try to catch the attention of former New York Yankee great and philanthropist Derek Jeter in hopes of bringing him to town to help with the campaign. District receives grant to help improve security measures From Page 1 January incident in the East Hill Elementary School when a visitor interacted with students in a manner that made them feel uncomfortable. No students were harmed, but the district then changed its security policies regarding visitors. The grant will help strengthen security through the purchase of new visitor identification equipment. Following a vendor selection process, new security equipment will be installed as soon as possible. The primary piece will be a machine that scans a visitor s government-issued identification (driver s license, passport, military ID, etc.) and compares that information to a variety of state and federal law enforcement databases. If a visitor is cleared, then the machine will print a pass that the visitor must wear while in the school building. If there is an issue, both school officials and local law enforcement are notified immediately. 2 - www.canajoharieschools.org Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 2 10/16/2017 2:39:47 PM
News from the Canajoharie Central School District IN OUR SCHOOLS Middle school joins Act with Respect program Through a federal government provision, all Canajoharie students can receive free breakfast and lunch during the school day. Federal provision lets all students eat for free All students enrolled in the Canajoharie Central School District, regardless of family income, can receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2017-18 school year as the district is now part of the federal Community Eligibility Provision. The program is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. Students receive free meals simply by going to their school s cafeteria. No application is required this year. School menus are updated monthly on the district s website and are available in each main office. Thanks to this provision, we will make sure that every single Canajoharie student, regardless of his or her circumstances, has access to two nutritious, well-balanced meals a day, guaranteed. Nutrition and physical wellness are important to the success of students at all ages, said Canajoharie Superintendent Deborah Grimshaw. All students still enter their student ID numbers at the register as part of the district s obligation to track the number of qualifying meals served. Students and families can pay for extra items, snacks, or ice cream using cash or meal accounts. Meal accounts can be accessed online for free at www.myschoolbucks.com. Parents can add funds to the account using a credit or debit card (there is a small transaction fee). MySchoolBucks also provides a transaction history of a student s account. Parents can also send payments to school with their child, for no transaction fees. We are continuing to provide the very best service. Beyond the meal programs, we will be working with the local Wellness Committees throughout the year, and will present the public with a Community Health & Wellness Fair in the spring, said School Nutrition Director Lauri Broady. The Canajoharie Middle School became part of the Act With Respect Always team in September. Students gathered to listen to 38-year veteran Saratoga Springs teacher Rich Johns, who started his pay it forward movement in 2009. I think the biggest take away of Coach John s Act with Respect Always philosophy is the importance of character and acting with our 99 [1 percent of a person is what you see, 99 represents your character]. If students and staff constantly strive to achieve their highest score you can make a huge difference in your classroom, school, community and world, said Canajoharie Middle School Principal Chris DePaolo. Students were given Act With Respect Always bracelets to wear and banners are up to remind everyone about the project. PTA provides K-5 with supplies The Canajoharie Parent-Teacher Association provided free school supplies for Canajoharie students in grades K-5 for the school year. We are very appreciative that our students had the tools they need to learn at hand the moment they walked in the door this fall, said East Hill Elementary School Principal Stacy Ward. We are so thankful for the PTA s generosity. www.canajoharieschools.org - 3 Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 3 10/16/2017 2:39:48 PM
October 2017 Capital project vote Dec. 5 Proposal is phase one of a long-range facilities improvement plan for the school district From Page 1 Proposals at a glance Dec. 5 public vote from 12-9 p.m. at the high school on 2 proposals. Proposal 1. A $4,986,750 project to complete renovations at all district buildings. Work would include security, heating/cooling, lighting, and other infrastructure updates. This would be the first phase of a multi-phase district facilities improvement plan. Proposal 2. Create a new Capital Reserve fund for the district. The new fund would begin with just over $50,000 and the Board of Education plans to add an additional $750,000 from the existing fund balance to help offset costs. More on Page 6. State and current district funds would cover about 83 percent of project costs. If the new fund is approved and the additional fund balance added in, the estimated annual cost for a homeowner in the district would be $2.25 per $100,000 of assessed property value financed over 15 years (estimated up to $21.36 per $100,000 over 15 years without the new fund). The proposed renovations would be the first phase of a multi-phase plan to control costs while also renovating and updating infrastructure throughout the district. If voters approve the project, state and district funds would pay for roughly 83 percent of the work (detailed breakdowns can be seen on Page 7), leaving about $923,000 to be paid with local funds. With that in mind, voters are also being asked to consider the creation of a new Capital Reserve fund for the school district. The new fund would begin with just over $50,000 (details about the new fund are on Page 6). To ease demand on local taxes, school officials plan to add an additional $750,000 from the district s existing fund balance. Funding from the reserve would be used to reduce the local share of the proposed project. If the project and new fund are approved, and the additional funding is added, the estimated annual cost for a homeowner in the district would be $2.25 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The proposed project would be financed over 15 years. The project can be approved without the approval of the new fund. However, the annual cost for homeowners would likely rise to as much as an estimated $21.36 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The renovation work would be overseen by the SEI Design group in Albany. Overall, if approved, the proposal would address five major areas: Continue FIVE AREAS FOR UPDATES on PAGE 5 4 - www.canajoharieschools.org Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 4 10/16/2017 2:39:50 PM
News from the Canajoharie Central School District Five areas for updates From Page 4 Security Security vestibules would be upgraded in all of the district s schools. Electronic locks would be installed on interior doors and upgrades would be made to video equipment on the exterior of all district buildings. Heating and Cooling Custodial and maintenance staff have done an outstanding job keeping facilities in good condition. However, key parts and temperature control mechanisms would be replaced throughout the district to maintain system efficiency and keep long-term costs down. Lighting There are more than 300,000 lighting fixtures throughout the Canajoharie school buildings. Many of these are fluorescent or incandescent fixtures. These would be upgraded with light-emitting diodes - more commonly known as LEDs - that typically require less maintenance and are more energy efficient, leading to energy savings for the district. Roofing, boilers, room work Roof maintenance is planned for the East Hill/ Middle School complex. Inside the building, the steam boilers in the East Hill/Middle School complex would be upgraded to more efficient hot water heaters. Work would also be done on the middle school main office, teacher s rooms and gym. Track resurfacing The track that rings the football field behind the high school has been weathered. The surface of the track would be refinished. See NEW CAPITAL RESERVE FUND on PAGE 6 The track behind the high school is one of the areas that is targeted to be updated in the proposed project. www.canajoharieschools.org - 5 Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 5 10/16/2017 2:39:51 PM
October 2017 Key upcoming dates Nov. 9, 7 p.m., High School - Update at regular Board of Education meeting Nov. 13, 3:15 p.m., East Hill Elementary School - PTA informational meeting Nov. 14 - Faculty informational meeting Nov. 15, 7 p.m., High School - Community presentation (live stream online) Nov. 16, during Parent-Teacher Conferences, East Hill/Middle School Complex - informational session Nov. 28 - Information brochure available (via mail) Dec. 5, 12-9 p.m., high school - Vote *If project is approved by voters, then work continues (dates are estimated) January-June 2018 - Final design June 2018-March 2019 - State Education Department Review March-May 2019 - Construction Bidding Process June 2019 - Construction begins New capital reserve fund would help offset local costs if approved From Page 5 Capital Reserve Fund details After state and available district funds would be applied to the estimated cost of the proposed work, roughly $923,000 would need to come from local funds. In order to offset this cost, the Board of Education is asking voters to consider the creation of a new Capital Reserve Fund for the district. This new fund would have a 10-year lifespan and a lifetime deposit cap of $2 million. The new fund would start with $51,916 from a previously expired capital fund. The Board of Education plans to add $750,000 from the district s existing fund balance into the new fund. That would help pay for this proposed project before voters on Dec. 5 and other projects in the future. Creation of this fund would allow school officials to reduce the financial impact of the proposed renovations, but it is not required to approve the work. Timeline moving forward There are a number of opportunities to ask questions about the proposals before the Dec. 5 vote. The district is accepting comments and questions through both its Facebook page and on its website www.canajoharieschools.org. There will also be a public meeting at Canajoharie High School on Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. This meeting will be live streamed and available on the district s Facebook page and website. There will be a second informational session during the day on Nov. 16 at East Hill Elementary School during parent-teacher conferences. Reminder information about the project will be also be mailed to residents and taxpayers in late November. If voters approve the project, school officials would provide monthly updates as they proceed with design, review, and bidding processes that will take place throughout 2018 and into 2019. At that point, and pending any unforeseen delays, construction would begin in the summer of 2019. 6 - www.canajoharieschools.org Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 6 10/16/2017 2:39:52 PM
News from the Canajoharie Central School District Proposed work by building East Hill/MS Complex Secure entrances for East Hill and Middle School Steam boiler updates Roof reconstruction Door and hardware replacement Video camera upgrades Great Room floor tiles Pool updates Total: $3,214,265 High School A rendering of the proposed new East Hill Elementary entrance. INSET: Some of the current plumbing for the steam boilers in the East Hill/Middle School Complex that is due for updates. Secure entrance Interior door hardware replacement Camera replacement/ additions Master clock system Track resurfacing & renovation Total: $1,633,273 Bus Garage A rendering of the proposed new high school entrance. UPPER LEFT: One of the current computers that runs security software for the building that is in need of an upgrade. Access control upgrades Accessibility compliance work Camera installations Total: $139,212 Phase I Payment Total estimated cost. $4,986,750 Estimated state building aid.......... $3,844,628 Debt service fund........ $179,796 EXCEL Aid:............... $38,543 Estimated local share $923,783* The current Transportation Facility. INSET: Some of the lights that would be upgraded in that facility. * May be offset in part by creation of a new Capital Reserve fund and additional district funding. More on Page 6 www.canajoharieschools.org - 7 Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 7 10/16/2017 2:39:53 PM
Canajoharie Central School 136 Scholastic Way Canajoharie, New York 13317 www.canajoharieschools.org Capital project vote Dec. 5 Canajoharie Central School District residents are asked to vote on two propositions on Dec. 5 from 12-9 p.m. at the high school. One proposal is a district-wide $4,986,750 renovation project. The other is a capital reserve fund to help offset costs of the work. More information on PAGE 4. FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT I would like to extend an invitation to you to join us for dinner - on us, and with us! Our Board of Education and Vision Committee members have developed new vision, mission and values statements for the Canajoharie Central School District that will serve as a framework for the district s academic, social, and emotional goals for the next five years. Now, we want your feedback! 6 7:45 p.m. to gather input on the vision, mission and value statements for the Canajoharie Central School District with the community. Participants will be offered appetizers, salad, and a full spaghetti dinner during the event. Supervised activities for children will be provided as well. Mrs. Grimshaw We are holding the Vision Community Dinner at the East Hill Elementary School on Oct. 26 from Please RSVP by Oct. 23 by calling the district office at 518-673-6302 and providing your name and number of people attending. Stay up-to-date The Canajoharie School Central District mobile app has everything you need to stay up to date on district news, lunch menus, athletic schedules and so much more. The app takes a minimum amount of mobile data to download and updates automatically. Search Canajoharie Schools in the App Store or on Google Play to download onto your mobile device. Stay social, too Become part of the growing Canajoharie Central School District s social community by liking our Facebook page at facebook.com/canajohariecsd. The Cougars are on Instagram! Search for CanjoSchools on Instagram to get behind-thescenes photos and to catch a glimpse Canajoharie through our students eyes. www.canajoharieschools.org Canajoharie Newsletter Fall 2017 Capital Project.indd 8 10/16/2017 2:39:54 PM