Minisink Valley Central School District voters approved a $36.9 million capital improvement project by a vote of 559-171 on Feb. 7, 2017.

The information provided below is the Capital Project Status presentation, given at the March 26, 2026 Board of Education meeting:

How a Capital Project Works

• Design of a project

  • Work with Board of Education, Administration and Community

  • Review with the architects

  • Finalize and create a potential timeline and budget

• Work with bond counsel

  • Estimate of how much of the work would be aidable

  • Determine best time to move forward with financing

• Work with attorney

  • Develop the proposition

  • Develop the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA)

  • Set a vote timeline to hold the vote

  • Our vote was held Feb.7, 2017

2017 Capital Project Proposition

Shall the Minisink Valley Central School District be authorized to construct additions and improvements to and reconstruct various School District buildings and facilities and to construct a new sewage treatment plant, site improvements and incidental improvements and expenses at a maximum estimated cost of $36,935,000, to expend $5,000,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund therefore, and $31,935,000 or so much therefore as may be necessary shall be raised by the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments; and in anticipation of such tax, obligations of said School District shall be issued?

Important Facts

• The proposition authorizes the borrowing of money to finance the capital work

• The district has 10 years to complete all of the work

• The district’s proposition also authorized the use of the Capital Reserve Fund

  • Use of the Capital Reserve ($5 million) was designed for offsetting parts of the project that were not state aidable

  • The Capital Reserve has been expended in the required time (10 years)

Target Areas  for the 2017 Capital Project

• Construction of a new sewer treatment plant to replace the existing plant, which was approaching the end of its useful life.  The new plant would have dual capacity to allow for regular maintenance to the system and avoid disruption to school operations on the main campus.

• Infrastructure, maintenance and system-replacement needs in all school buildings, as identified by a state-mandated building condition survey conducted in the 2015-16 school year.

• The construction of a new high school cafeteria to better accommodate student and building needs, and the repurposing of the existing, outdated cafeteria/kitchen to create new instructional space for programs that reflect 21st Century college and career pathways.

New York State Education Department (NYSED) Approval Process

How it works:

• District develops architectural design and scope of work with its licensed architects.

• Project must be submitted to NYSED’s Facilities Planning Division for the following reviews:

1. Architectural review

2. Engineering review

3. Financial review

• Upon NYSED approval, a building permit is issued to the school district.

• The district can then go out to bid for construction contracts.

New York State Education Department (NYSED) Final Submission Process

How it works:

• District completes construction and submits the Certificate of Substantial Completion to NYSED 

• NYSED issues Certificate of Occupancy

• District is required to submit final cost reports to NYSED for financial review.

• Once completed, State Aid will begin to flow.

Elementary and Intermediate Schools: Covered Work

• Replacement of VAT in A & D wings of the buildings

• Replacement of the exterior original slate tile with new energy efficient insulated panels

• Booster pump replacement

• Replacement of retaining wall and steps in the back of the building

• Repaving of parking areas, play surfaces and walkways

• Refinishing of stage and gym floors

• JV & Varsity softball dugouts replaced

• Replacement of A Gym bleachers

• Replacement of various electrical panels along with emergency lighting upgrades
  

Otisville Elementary: Covered Work

• HVAC work in the main office

• Various controls for HVAC with masonry work

• Gym lighting

Middle School: Covered Work

• Modernization of elevator

• Booster pump replacement

• VCT floor replacements

• Replacement of two boilers

• Gym lighting upgrade

• Replacement of two door hardware units for ADA compliance

• Unit ventilator replacements throughout the building

• JV baseball dugouts replaced

• Sidewalk and ramp replaced

High School: Covered Work

• Pool dehumidification system replacement

• Pool lighting

• Replacement of locker rooms floors

• Replacement of locker room bathrooms

• Electronic control replacements across the building

• Mechanical upgrades, including Uni-ventilator replacements

• Replacement of electrical panels across the entire building

• Drainage work around the high school

• Sidewalk and wall replacement

• Paving work at high school

• Exterior lighting replacement

• Reconstruction of the track

• Reconstruction of the track bleacher wall

• Drainage work at the soccer/lacrosse field

• Drainage work around the track

Maintenance Facility: Covered Work

• Paving of the entire facility

• Potential of a bathroom (Removed)

Bus Garage: Covered Work

• New water tank

• Piping replacement

• Heat exchanger

Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) & Conversion of Old Facility: Covered Work

• New treatment facility that is approximately 40% larger

• Will allow for a partial shutdown during summer for maintenance

• Will not require the district to build a new facility in the future

• Convert the existing facility into a new support facility for the Buildings & Grounds Department

• All B&G equipment will now be under a roof

High School Cardio & Weight Room: Scope of work

Cardio Room

• Demolish existing storage room

• Construct new facility

• Purchase 23 pieces of equipment

• Addition of televisions for instruction

• Air condition the facility

Weight Room

• Replace existing flooring

• Add air conditioning

• New paint on walls and ceilings

• Purchase all new weight equipment

High School Electrical Work and Storage Room: Scope of Work

Electrical Work

• Replace original switchgear

• Replace existing transformer

• Replace the electrical line from the pole to the transformer

• Additional work of replacing original electrical boxes & main feed line

• Now required to bury most of the line coming into the district

Storage Room

• Create a large open storage room

• Must have similar square footage

ES/IS Lunch Rooms Roof & HS Generator: Scope of Work

• Full replacement of the roof over the entire ES/IS cafeteria

• Replacement of the high school’s two generators with one large generator

• Current generators have failed

High School Cafeteria Decision

• The proposed cafeteria expansion was originally considered to address capacity needs and to improve the student dining experience

• The project was planned prior to COVID-19

• The district was in the design phase of the new cafeteria just prior to COVID-19

• Everything changed after COVID-19

Post COVID-19 cost increases

• Materials, equipment and labor cost have risen significantly beyond original estimates

Supply chain disruptions

• Difficulty obtaining essential material like HVAC systems, Technology components and construction supplies

Labor challenges

• Shortage at the time in skilled trades affected construction timelines

Updated project estimates

• Estimates showed the cafeteria expansion would cost substantially more than initially budgeted

Enrollment trends

• Population in the high school was down approximately 170 students

• Population in the district was down approximately 350 students

Patrick Witherow
Assistant Superintendent for Business
845-355-5122
pwitherow@minisink.com