Capital Improvement Project: SOAR 2029
The Lake Hawks' Voyage to a State-of-the-Art Campus
Watkins Glen Central School District Announces $35.8 Million Capital Improvement Project Referendum.
On December 17th, 2024 (12/17/2024) in the BOE Room 12pm-8:00pm residents will have the opportunity to vote on $35.8 Million dollar Capital Improvement Project for the Watkins Glen Central School District. In the event of a weather or other emergency, an alternative vote date of December 18th, 2024 (12/18/2024) in the BOE Room 12pm-8:00pm will be held. This project represents the district’s commitment to preserving and enhancing our facilities for students, staff, and our community. Our goal is to focus on education, athletics, assembly, infrastructure, and security improvements to our facilities.
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Capital Improvement Project, a $35.8 million investment that reflects our unwavering commitment to providing safe, enriching, and future-ready educational environments for all our students. Through careful planning and valuable input from district administrators, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders, we have identified essential upgrades that will transform our schools to meet current needs while preparing for future challenges. This project will deliver vital enhancements across our High School, Elementary School, Bus Garage, and Storage Building, each with a focus on health, safety, and modernized learning spaces. The scope includes:
At the HIGH SCHOOL:
Athletic Facilities: Upgrading stadium lights to LED, resurfacing the track, and replacing scoreboards, additional stadium bleachers, press box/storage building, pool timing system replacement, and field house scoreboards replacements.
Infrastructure: Parking lot asphalt and fencing replacements, tennis court resurfacing, masonry restorations, and campus signage updates.
Educational Spaces: Cafeteria, kitchen, auditorium lobby renovations, auditorium lighting and presentation improvements, and audio system improvements within the auditorium, field house and exterior stadium complex, ceramic tile replacements, and a revamped technology classroom.
Safety and Accessibility: Select door replacements, additional fire alarm devices, generators, emergency lights, and enhanced auditorium safety rigging.
HVAC and Electrical: Replacing pool filtration equipment, improving ventilation, adding emergency lights at egress doors, and providing GFCI outlets in classrooms.
At the ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
Playground and Outdoor Spaces: New fencing, improved surfacing, asphalt, fencing, campus signage, and sidewalk replacements, the addition of a learning landscape for outdoor learning west of the building and equipment replacement and surfacing improvements of the existing playground.
Security and Accessibility: Main entrance and office renovation with enhanced security features, ADA-compliant restroom upgrades, select door replacements, additional fire alarm devices and generators.
HVAC and Classroom Improvements: Select classroom renovations, new air conditioning for classrooms, pump replacements, improved ventilation, and lighting improvements.
Kitchen Upgrades: Floor tile replacement, a new grease trap, and general infrastructure improvements to support daily operations.
At the BUS GARAGE:
Infrastructure and Safety: Masonry restorations, fire rating upgrades, fencing replacements, and campus signage.
Mechanical and HVAC: Replacing radiant heater control valves, replacing make-up air handling units, and new zone heating controls.
Electrical and EV Prep: Additional electrical service and a new distribution panel in preparation for possible EV charging requirements if state mandated, fire alarm improvements.
At the STORAGE BUILDING:
Safety and Accessibility: Masonry restorations, chimney removal, roof access hatch, and emergency egress lighting.
Upgrades: Overhead door replacements and other infrastructure improvements to ensure safety and functionality.
The total cost of this project is estimated at $35.8 million. To fund this, there will be a one time nominal tax impact of 4.08%. This modest increase reflects the district’s commitment to making essential upgrades while maintaining fiscal responsibility. The investment will be distributed over time, reducing the immediate financial burden on taxpayers, and the district will also leverage state funding wherever possible.
While state funding will contribute to the project, it does not fully cover the cost of the improvements. The 4.08% tax adjustment is necessary to bridge the gap and ensure that the district can fund these essential renovations comprehensively. This modest, carefully planned increase will allow us to complete upgrades that will benefit the community for many years to come.
Understanding the need at Watkins Glen Elementary School, a large portion of this project will be focused on renovating the building to bring equity to the students attending. Along with the district-wide improvements, the school will receive renovations to increase security and safety to our everyday school lives. Upgrading these facilities will allow Watkins Glen students the same level of educational opportunities as those attending surrounding schools.
Watkins Glen CSD has a long tradition of investing in school facilities that are of high quality, well-maintained and safe. The district also aspires to be the school district others strive to become by providing students facilities that foster an empowering learning environment.
There will be an informational meeting about the project on December 3rd, 2024, at 6:15 PM in the Elementary School Auditorium.
The vote will be held on Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 (12/17/2024) in the BOE Room, from 12pm to 8:00pm. All District residents are encouraged to exercise their right to vote.
For more information, please visit our website at Home | Watkins Glen Central School District (wgcsd.org) and on our Facebook, and Instagram pages or contact our district at (607) 535-3219.