Important Message from Dr. Paul J. Padalino, Kingston School District Superintendent
Dear KCSD Families,
We’re proud to provide a robust education and experiences that prepare our students for success. We could serve our school community and visitors even more effectively by addressing some key areas – air conditioning and filtration, windows and roofs to preserve building exteriors, restrooms, parking and traffic flow, accessibility for people with limited mobility, and more.
Kingston City School District has an opportunity to make these improvements with the help of significant state funding that is available when voters approve the work through a capital project process. KCSD has a long history of employing fiscal responsible approaches to upgrading its buildings, including the most-recent comprehensive and historic re-imagining of the Kingston High School campus, which was completed on time and under budget.
Now, it’s time to make improvements to our K-8 schools. On Tuesday, May 16, we'll ask our communities to vote on a proposition to do so.
We created the webpages KingstonCitySchools.org/CapitalProject to inform voters throughout this community-centered process. Here are some introductory details:
Why a capital project vote?
KCSD routinely seeks the most fiscally responsible methods to fund the District’s needs. The capital project proposition fits within that strategy because of the availability of State Building Aid. If voters approve, the District will receive about 76% of State Aid reimbursement to offset the local cost of a $162.5 million facilities improvement plan.
The State Building Aid would allow us to stretch our dollars while minimizing the local tax impact. When combined with $10 million saved in a voter-approved Capital Reserve fund and the near payoff of some existing debt, it means residents would see an increase of about $9 per month on their property tax bills for these improvements. That’s based on the assessed value – not market value – of $200,000, and the amount varies slightly depending on the community.
What projects are proposed?
Practical upgrades would affect nearly every school, except for the recently renovated Kingston High School and Meagher Pre-K center. Proposed improvements vary by building, and include:
-Air conditioning, and the electrical and plumbing upgrades that support it, as part of a switch to modern HVAC systems with improved filtration.
-Exterior work, including doors, masonry, roofing and more energy-efficient windows, for buildings affected by age and the elements.
-Renovations to restrooms, many of which date to original building construction.
-Improved access to make sidewalks, entrances, stages and other building areas easier for people with mobility issues to navigate.
-Addition of parking spaces and changes in traffic flow to align with current needs.
-Overhaul of specific theaters and auditoriums to include new lighting, sound and seats.
What’s next?
You will hear much more about the proposition over the next several weeks. Follow KingstonCSD on Facebook for updates and mark April 26 in your calendar for a webinar with the opportunity to ask questions. The capital project proposition is an important decision for our District and all the communities we serve, and we will be diligent in sharing details that contribute to an informed vote.
Thank you,
Dr. Paul J. Padalino
Superintendent of Schools