A school district outside Syracuse, New York is pursuing major facility upgrades. Voters in Baldwinsville, New York have overwhelmingly approved a $242.4 million capital improvement project that will transform the suburban Syracuse school district over the next decade. The three-phase project passed with 74% support.
The initiative, “Funding Improvements & Building the Future,” aims to enhance educational programming while upgrading aging buildings across the district’s eight school buildings. Major components include adding roughly 50,000 square feet of new classroom space, installing air conditioning in renovated areas and implementing a comprehensive grade-level reconfiguration.
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The project comes as the region prepares for significant population growth driven by Micron Technology’s planned semiconductor manufacturing facility. Local officials project Onondaga County could see a 25% population increase over 20 years, which would add over 1,300 students to Baldwinsville schools.
The work will be completed in three phases, with the first focusing on elementary schools and Ray Middle School. Key improvements include a 23,500-square-foot addition at Ray to accommodate 23 new classrooms, along with Pre-K renovations and infrastructure upgrades at five elementary buildings.
Phase two targets secondary facilities, featuring a 26,000-square-foot second floor addition at Durgee Junior High and comprehensive renovations at Baker High School, including replacement of the stadium turf and track. The final phase includes technology upgrades, structural improvements, and additional renovations across all buildings.
The project will increase local school taxes by 2.88% phased over six years. For a median home valued at $250,000, this translates to approximately $25 in additional annual taxes beginning in the 2028-29 school year.
Under the new organization, elementary schools will house pre-kindergarten through third grade, while Ray Middle School will become an intermediate school serving grades four through six. Seventh grade will relocate to the main campus at Durgee Junior High School, a move designed to improve instructional efficiency and resource allocation.
Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay
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