Our Next Capital Project

The last Capital Project is complete. It centered predominantly on improving the Auditorium space at the Jr. Sr. High School. The Auditorium is finished and is a state of the art performing arts space. Since the completion of the last project, the Board of Education, staff and stakeholders have begun work on the next round of district improvements.

Over the past 18 months, significant planning work has taken place. A series of committee and subcommittee meetings, reviews of our property, assessments of our fiscal obligations, and assessments of needs. Throughout last year, we developed a scope, narrowed that scope, and have now set forth to ask our voters for approval.

Our current project proposal includes traffic pattern improvements, classroom modernization, mechanical upgrades, classroom safety upgrades, sidewalk improvements, ventilation upgrades, and a replacement of our turf field that will soon expire. With the support of our fiscal advisors and our Facilities Committee, we have drafted a proposal that accesses 90% State Building Aid. Most importantly, the project will enhance our facilities and improve learning experiences for students.

In the fiscal realm, two principles guided our work. Throughout the process we wanted to maximize our project by maximizing our retiring debt. We also wanted to use our Capital Reserve Fund to offset the remaining cost. Doing so makes it possible for us to put this project forward in a way that will not have additional tax impact. Moving forward, as a Board of Education and as a Leadership Team, we are focused on maintaining facilities, rebuilding reserves and prioritizing expenses in order to stabilize our budget process. This project will help us achieve those objectives.

The vote will take place on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.  The polls are open from 12:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.  Cortlandville (District 9) and Cortland (District 1) will vote at the Kaufman Center and Virgil residents will vote at the Virgil Town Hall.

For more information, please check our website at www.cortlandschools.org