Roxbury School District to Present Building Project Proposal to Voters

ROXBURY  — Voters in the Roxbury Central School District will see a building project proposal on the May ballot. The proposal asks for approval of a $5.2 million project to improve school facilities and safety.

Of the total cost, $1.5 million will come from the district’s capital reserve fund. After the project is finished, New York State will cover 55% of the cost through building aid over 15 years. This means the state will pay a little more than $2.8 million.

The district will hold a public information session on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Roxbury School in the board meeting room. Community members are invited to attend and learn more. 

Every five years, school districts in New York must complete a Building Condition Survey (BCS). This report looks at the condition of school buildings and helps plan repairs. The district received its latest report in December from its architect, Jim Graham of Synthesis Architects, and has spent several months reviewing it. The proposed project focuses on important health and safety needs found in the survey, along with concerns shared by staff and community members.

We didn’t need a building condition survey to tell us the one priority area: the main parking lot has needed repairs for many years. Recent construction made parking more difficult and reduced the number of spaces. The project plan includes fixing the lot, adding more parking spaces, and improving safety.

To make room for more parking, the current playground will be moved and rebuilt. The new playground will meet accessibility rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provide a safer space for students.

The project will also replace heating and ventilation systems. The units in the 1997 wing have reached the end of their lives and replacement parts are increasing difficult to find. New systems will include air conditioning. This is important because state law says classrooms cannot be used if temperatures reach 88 degrees.

In addition, the project will improve the bus garage area by fixing parking surfaces and upgrading electrical systems used for heating the bus engines in winter. The district also plans to add better visitor parking, including ADA-compliant spaces, and create designated parking for visiting school buses.

District officials say the project is designed to improve safety, comfort, and access for students, staff, and visitors.

Residents are encouraged to attend the meeting on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Roxbury Central School to learn more.