For Immediate Release
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District Proposes $20.9 Million Capital Improvement Project for Voter Approval
Oct. 30, 2024, Coxsackie, NY - The Coxsackie-Athens Board of Education approved a proposition to present to district voters for essential capital improvements on Oct. 23, 2024. The vote will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, from 12-9 p.m., with polling locations at Coxsackie Elementary School and Edward J. Arthur Elementary School in Athens.
The proposed project, valued at $20.9 million, focuses on enhancing the district’s learning environments and infrastructure. This referendum is scaled back from an original proposition project that was valued at $29.4 million and voted down by the community in December 2023.
The proposed renovations in the 2024 Capital Project will create an improved learning environment for students by:
Updating finishes, cabinets, lighting, flooring, electric and furniture in elementary classrooms for enhanced collaboration and learning activities
Upgrading both kitchen spaces at Coxsackie Elementary and Edward J. Arthur Elementary with modern equipment to improve meal service
Revitalizing the high school’s 1970s-era science classrooms with new cabinets, electric, furniture, and modernized features to support today’s science curriculum
Other key elements include:
Reconstruction of the west side middle school parking lot and access drive
Replacement of domestic water piping across district buildings
Replacement of portions of the middle school roof
Construction of public restrooms at the 5-bay garage area
Pavement, sidewalk, and playground improvements
Improvements to the existing natural grass playfields by improving drainage, and fencing for safety.
In parallel, the district is working on an Energy Performance Contract (EPC), which will provide air conditioning to the middle and high school classrooms. The district also aims to utilize NYSERDA grant funding to extend air conditioning into classrooms in both elementary schools. If the grants do not materialize, the District plans to redirect funds from field improvements to cover the cost of air conditioning.
These efforts were shaped by feedback collected from community exit poll surveys and outreach to parents and residents over the last year. The estimated tax impact will be $0.28 cents per $1,000 assessed value. This is a sharp decrease from the $0.86 cents per thousand assessed value associated with the December 2023 proposal.
For more information on the proposed capital project, please visit the district website at www.cacsd.org.
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Media Contact:
Austin Crosier, Communications Technician
Coxsackie-Athens Central School District