Herkimer Central School District residents voted 124-13 on Tuesday, Jan. 16, to approve a $35.35 million capital project that will address health and safety, aging infrastructure, accessibility and programmatic needs.
“Thank you to the school community for coming out and supporting the school and this capital project,” Herkimer Superintendent Kathleen Carney said. “The project encompasses a variety of areas to help maintain our capital assets both inside and outside of our buildings. The work that will be completed will only enhance our instructional programs and overall school experience for our PreK-12 students.”
Capital Project 2024 will have no additional tax impact for district residents because of proactive fiscal planning that allows the project to be funded using state Building Aid, capital reserve funds and a drop-off of debt from previous projects.
The district prioritizes projects based on findings in the state-required building condition survey that is done every five years and recommendations from architects, Board of Education Facilities Committee members, building maintenance and surveys of school staff, students and the community.
The design phase for the project will begin right away, followed by submission to the New York State Education Department for review and approval. Then, the bidding process is anticipated to begin in March 2025, with the construction phase taking place from June 2025 to September 2026. The project is expected to be closed out in December 2026.