WVSD voters green-light capital projects

By Abby Wolf
WARWICK — Voters in the Warwick Valley School District overwhelmingly approved the $10.8 million capital project last Thursday, Dec. 7, with 585 votes in favor, 160 opposed, according to Timothy J. Holmes, assistant superintendent for business.
“We’re thankful to our residents who came out to vote,” Warwick Schools Superintendent Dr. David Leach said following the vote. “New York State aid, along with the funds we’ve set aside in our capital reserve, eliminates any additional costs to taxpayers for this proposed capital project.”
The funds will be used for repairs, replacements or refurbishments to all Warwick Valley school buildings, grounds and equipment:
The majority of the work will be done at the high school and will include: roof repair and replacement; removal of old oil tanks; AC units; instructional space renovation; and bathroom updates.
Work at the middle school will include: removing a 15,000 gallon oil tank; ceiling replacement; security upgrades; and instructional space renovation.
Park Avenue Elementary will get air conditioning; replacement of failing original interior piping; and replacement of classroom flooring.
Among the work to be done at Sanfordville Elementary will be paving the student drop-off parking lot; removal of a 12,000 gallon oil tank; and the conversion of oil water heaters to natural gas.
The work is expected to begin during the summer of 2018.
There are 17,027 registered voters within the school district. The 742 votes cast in last Thursday’s vote represent 4.4 percent of all voters.