Penn Yan will vote on project Dec. 8

PENN YAN--The Penn Yan Central School District held a public information session virtually Thursday, Nov. 19 regarding the district's roughly $29,000,000 capital improvement project scheduled to go before voters on Dec. 8. District Superintendent Howard Dennis hosted the session and detailed how the funds of the project would be spread to different buildings throughout the district.
"This philosophy of capital improvement projects came through feedback from taxpayers combined with the whole idea that they wanted us to take care of the facilities we have been entrusted with and they want their taxes to be predictable," Dennis said.
During the presentation, Dennis stated the funding needed for the project, which totals $28,884,300, would have no impact on the district's tax rate.
"We didn't want peaks and valleys with the tax rate," Dennis mentioned.
Dennis said the timing of the project was examined closely and as a result now was a good time to go through with the project.
"The timing is now in terms of the construction industry and getting favorable rates for the borrowing associated with this project," Dennis said.
The project, which began with the formation of a committee in November of 2019, initially started with a larger list that was then distilled down to the current request.
For the elementary school, there will be classroom upgrades, improved HVAC systems, a new health clinic by consolidating space from different areas and outdoor improvements. For the middle school, the scope of work is much the same while also converting the school's heating system from steam to hot water. In addition, a special focus will be put on science rooms.
For Penn Yan Academy, changes will include classroom upgrades that will also include moving away from classroom doors that rely on keys to open. Other improvements at the Academy will include stormwater upgrades and an addition to the current fitness center that will be designed, in part, for better rehabilitation facilities for injured athletes. Beyond the instruction area, the plan also calls for minor upgrades to the maintenance building to improve energy efficiency.
The largest cost of the project is associated with the HVAC upgrades at the elementary and middle schools.
"We don't traditionally do this but we also included an inclement weather date of Dec. 15 just in case," Dennis said of the voting dates.
He added that absentee ballots are also available and can be obtained by contacting the school district. The deadline for which is the day of the vote.
"All of this work would not begin until the summer of 2022, if there is a positive vote then we would finish the architectural work and then it would be sent off to the state department of education (for approval)... so it is a little ways away," Dennis added.
There will be another Facebook Live session on Monday, Nov. 30 at 6 p.m. for additional information.