NEW HARTFORD, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) — The New Hartford Central School District Board of Education announced the adoption of a new capital project on Wednesday, October 25 after a previous plan was tabled.
The previous plan included the building of a new bus garage behind Myles Elementary on Clinton Road in the village. However, the plans were tabled after they were shown to voters during a school board meeting on Tuesday, October 10.
The current capitol project will address the district’s most critical needs and renovate aging infrastructure within the district’s five schools. It also begins the second phase of the district’s Health, Energy Efficiency and Academics Capital Project Initiative, which is aimed at preserving existing facilities, implement health and safety enhancements and improve accessibility to all the buildings.
Construction began in the fall for the first phase, which was approved by voters in 2021 and is expected to be completed in 2025.
According to the district, priorities for all three elementary schools and the senior high school include, but are not limited to:
- Security improvements
- Asbestos abatement
- Pavement and sidewalk replacement
- HVAC system upgrades
- Lighting and electrical upgrades
- Door/door hardware replacements, and
- Installation of an electric bus charging system.
Priorities focused on Hughes and Myles Elementary Schools include, but are not limited to:
- Improvements to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Hot water systems/hot water boiler replacement, and
- Replacement of the schools’ window walls.
Priorities at Bradley Elementary School and the senior high school include:
- Upgrading the pool’s locker rooms
- Replacement of the window and exterior insulation and finishing systems, and
- Reconstruction of masonry.
The existing bus garage on Graham Avenue, which would have been supplemented by the proposed garage at Myles Elementary, will now receive more improvements, which include:
- Pavement improvements
- Replacement of deteriorated insulation, and
- Reconstruction of masonry and columns.
The garage is also scheduled to receive lighting and electrical upgrades, door and door hardware replacement, and the installation of an electric bus charging system. A food storage building at Perry Junior High School would receive security improvements, as well as lighting and electrical upgrades.
The $44.7 million project is not anticipated to have any impact on taxes in the district. If district residents approve the proposed project, district officials expect work will begin in the spring of 2025. The total project is expected to take two years to complete.
Voting to approve the project is scheduled for Tuesday, December 12.
