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Critics of C-A school project stirring

By Billie Dunn

COXSACKIE — When long-time Coxsackie resident Dorothy Johnson heard about the school district’s latest plan for expansion, she thought it was a long-term prospect. It isn’t.

In less than two weeks from today, district taxpayers will be asked to vote on a $19.9 million project that school officials say will address necessary maintenance, infrastructure, security and health needs.

“When they did the middle school they held meeting after meeting after meeting, and I went to three or four of them,” said Johnson, “but they announce this, and we’re supposed to vote on it six weeks later?”

Johnson is a 55-year resident of Coxsackie, and she’s seen a number of changes in the district. She says she supported the district’s recent middle school project — skeptically.

“In a way I supported the middle school, but I was skeptical because they said it wouldn’t cost us anything, but over the years it did,” she said.

In November, C-A Chief Financial Officer Leslie Copleston said the $19,954,420 project will not create a tax impact for three years, which is when the district anticipates a boost in its tax base from three new businesses locating to the area.

Without additional revenues, the district projects a tax impact of $7.27 per month for a home assessed at $100,000 — an amount officials say should remain the same over the entire 15-year repayment period.

“With the state of the economy and no indication of improvement in the near future I cannot see anyone anticipating spending $19 million at this time — and that is before overruns which usually occur,” wrote Johnson in a Nov. 21 e-mail.

Late last month district officials cited federal and state Education Department mandates as one of the driving forces behind the renovation and construction project.

The mandates include the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which was reauthorized in 2004, and the 2008 New York State Response to Intervention (RtI) initiative.

In a press release last week officials outlined infrastructure improvements that will be addressed by the plan, which include the replacement of remaining built-up roofs, the replacement of 40-year-old boilers at Coxsackie Elementary and E.J. Arthur Elementary schools, the repair of masonry, sidewalks and curbs, the creation of wire management closets to handle today’s technology infrastructure, and the replacement of exterior doors to the buildings.

According to officials, health and safety issues being addressed by the plan include improvements to school entries in the elementary buildings, securing vestibules at both the middle school and the high school main entrances, enlargement of the high school entrance lobby, handicapped accessibility, and asbestos abatement, among others.

“We will be changing our building entrances to meet prescribed school security standards. These security standards have been spurred by the shootings at Columbine in 1999 and other school shootings since then,” said Superintendent Dr. Earle Gregory in the release. “Our job as educators is to take care of our students; their safety and health are non-negotiable.”

The Coxsackie-Athens High School was originally constructed in 1950 with additions in 1953 and 1971. The elementary buildings were constructed in 1966 and school officials say neither has been added to since then.

“Unemployment is at the highest rate it has been in 26 years. Greene County has the highest rate in the state. With the state needing to cut back, school aid may very well be cut. If they cut the reimbursement to nursing homes as suggested, the county will have to make up the difference, thus a raise in county taxes,” said Johnson. “Senior citizens on a fixed income cannot afford an increase. Some of them are barely getting by now.”

Johnson noted that the announcement regarding the project came at a time when many retirees were heading south for the winter.

“This plan has not been given enough consideration, but it is being pushed through one, two, three. We need more information, and not just the same old script. There are to be only two hearings…and forget about the tours — they are scheduled during the day when most people are working,” said Johnson.

“While pondering this huge expense remember the promises given when they wanted the middle school, and the quality of construction that $17 million bought us. Don't be fooled again,” she said, “Lets not saddle ourselves with expenses. We can't afford to buy a pig in a poke.”

To reach reporter Billie Dunn, please call 518-943-2100, ext. 3323, or e-mail bdunn@thedailymail.net

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