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Both propositions approved for EXCEL project Proposition 1 is for $4,600,000 and carries a zero percent tax increase. It includes boiler and heating system replacement, expansion of energy management systems and improvements to the district’s technology infrastructure.
Proposition 2 is for $440,000, and carries a 2 cent per thousand of assessed value increase in taxes. It includes an upgraded fire alarm system and renovation of the middle school gym to accommodate improved physical education instruction and community use of the gym. Approval of proposition 2 is contingent on approval of proposition 1. The 2 cent per thousand of assessed value increase in taxes would result in a $2 per year increase on a property valued at $100,000.
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Goal for increased
voter awareness & turnout Caledonia-Mumford Central School Board of Education and administration say increased voter turnout is essential in the upcoming EXCEL Aid capital project vote on June 26, 2007. Voters rejected the initial $5.4 million EXCEL Aid Capital Project in March 2007 with less than 400 district residents casting their vote. School officials believe low voter turnout due to inadequate communication about the EXCEL Aid capital project, contributed to voter rejection. Thirty school districts in the western New York region hosted EXCEL Aid capital projects in the recent months. Cal-Mum and Geneva schools are the only two that voters rejected. The board of education unanimously voted to put the EXCEL Aid project before the voters for a second time. School Board President John McCreedy said the EXCEL Aid project is too important to not bring it before the voters again. EXCEL Aid is state aid allotted to every school district in New York State to address needed building upgrades and improvements. It requires voter approval to accept the aid. Business Manager Patrick Donegan said Cal-Mum is scheduled to receive $352,000 in EXCEL Aid, if the voters say yes on June 26. "New York State wants to give Cal-Mum $352,000. The money allotted for Cal-Mum is sitting in Albany, waiting for voters to accept it," Donegan explained. "By voting to accept the EXCEL Aid, voters are bringing their tax dollars back to their home school district rather than it going elsewhere," he added. The board split the original $5,040,000 project into two separate propositions this time around. Proposition 1 is for $4,600,000 and carries a zero percent tax increase. It includes boiler and heating system replacement, expansion of energy management systems and improvements to the district’s technology infrastructure. Proposition 2 is for $440,000, and carries a 2 cent per thousand of assessed value increase in taxes. It includes an upgraded fire alarm system and renovation of the middle school gym to accommodate improved physical education instruction and community use of the gym. Approval of proposition 2 is contingent on approval of proposition 1. The 2 cent per thousand of assessed value increase in taxes would result in a $2 per year increase on a property valued at $100,000. Superintendent of Schools David V. Dinolfo said that we heard concerns about the need to improve communications and responded with new and innovative ways to get information to the public and also, bringing the public inside the schools so they can learn about the work proposed first hand. The plan included campus tours for the district residents. Morning and evening tours were scheduled to accommodate residents’ schedules. A small number of residents participated in the tours so far, however, Dinolfo said those that did reported that they had their questions answered about the work proposed in the project and enjoyed the opportunity to see the numerous changes that have been implemented district wide. They also asked frank questions of the superintendent about why some of the work proposed for the EXCEL project wasn’t done in the last capital project. Dinolfo said planning for the 2005 capital project started at least two years prior when rising energy costs were not quite as concerning and the current boiler systems were still within reasonable condition. Today, four years later, with the EXCEL money targeted for energy improvements, the board of education and administration believe it is the right time to do the extensive project. As residents toured each building, they expressed their support for the increased security measures implemented at each school, particularly the security cameras and the buzzer alert entry door system. Security, energy and environmental systems are supported by the district’s technology infrastructure, one of the areas targeted for improvement in the EXCEL Aid project. Using an entirely new design, Cal-Mum produced a more visually appealing, full color newsletter outlining the details of the EXCEL Aid capital project. The newsletter was mailed to every household in the district. Perhaps the most innovative communication tool the school district came up with is a DVD produced by faculty, staff and students, explaining the areas of work encompassed in the EXCEL Aid project. The DVD, called Cal-Mum EXCEL Aid Capital Project: What It’s All About, is free and available in several downtown businesses and banks, the town and village offices, the Caledonia and Mumford Libraries and at each school’s main office. To request a free DVD, call the district office at 538-6811. "We understand that parents and residents are busy with work and family commitments. The goal of the DVD is to put the information into the hands of the voter, to review at their own convenience, rather than trying to make time to attend an evening public information meeting that may be inconvenient for them," Dinolfo explained. The district did hold a public information meeting on June 12 in the elementary school auditorium for those who prefer a personal presentation of the project’s details. They hope all of their combined efforts to increase public awareness will bring people out to the polls to approve the proposed EXCEL Aid project. Complete information about the EXCEL Aid capital project is available on the school’s website, www.cal-mum.org An email account is set up to receive residents’ questions and concerns at excelproject@cal-mum.org Voting will be held in the middle school lobby from noon until 9 p.m. on June 26, 2007.
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DVD and campus tours
part of CM School’s The Caledonia-Mumford Central School Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to put the EXCEL capital project before the district voters for a second time on Tuesday, June 26. Voters originally rejected the $5.4 million EXCEL project on March 27, 2007 by a vote of 207 – 187. At a previous meeting, Board members discussed the feedback they had gathered from the public as to possible reasons why the project was voted down. Much of what they heard from voters was that the project’s details were poorly communicated and that the voting day was not well publicized. Some voters said that the minimal tax increase of two cents per thousand of assessed value was unacceptable to many property owners in the district in the wake of other rising costs and property reassessments. EXCEL (Expanding Our Children’s Education and Learning) provides an allocation of aid to every school district in New York State to address needed building upgrades. Voters in nearly every school district in Western New York have approved EXCEL projects in the last several months. Caledonia-Mumford will receive $352,000 of EXCEL AID for a two year period that expires at the end of the 2007-08 school year. The State Education Department requires that EXCEL aid be used within one of five areas: technology, health/safety, campus accessibility, classroom expansion and energy efficiency. School Board President John McCreedy and Superintendent of Schools David V. Dinolfo said the areas of work proposed for the EXCEL capital project are too important to not bring it before the voters another time. The district will apply an additional $300,000 of capital reserve money with the $352,000 of EXCEL aid, to fund the capital project. The total list of projects is unchanged. However, it will be divided into two separate propositions, giving voters a choice. Proposition No. 1 - $4.6 million. Zero percent tax increase Includes replacing the boilers and associated energy management systems in the elementary and middle schools, including E.S. heating ventilation/casements. Air conditioning for M.S. computer lab and E.S. library. Also, technology wiring upgrade to Cat 6 to support expanding use of security cameras, intercom pass/entry system on locked main doors to school buildings, energy management systems (heat, cooling, lights), shared fuel depot with town, village, EMS, support for sophisticated engineering software and capacity to add streaming video over district network. Proposition No. 2 - $440,000. Tax increase of two cents per thousand of assessed value. Includes upgrade to addressable fire alarm system in middle and high school and renovation of middle school gymnasium for improved physical education instruction. *Voter approval of Proposition No. 2 is contingent upon approval of Proposition No. 1. The district has a comprehensive public relations campaign outlined to get factual information about the proposed EXCEL capital project out to the voters. This campaign includes a public meeting on Tuesday, June 12, 7 p.m. in the elementary school auditorium and a faculty and student produced DVD explaining the EXCEL capital project will be released next week. The free DVD will available in several locations throughout the community (banks, offices, stores) and can be accessed through the school website. DVD’s will also be available in all three school main offices and in the district office. The pubic is invited to participate in any one of six scheduled tours of the campus facilities, highlighting the areas included in the EXCEL project. Registration is not necessary to take part in a group tour. Tours will start from the main entrance of the elementary school and are expected to last about one hour (you may leave before the end of the tour). Tour Dates and Times
For more information you may call the school district at 538-6811.
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Board discusses revoting EXCEL capital project The Caledonia-Mumford Board of Education spent the better part of the April 17 meeting discussing possible causes for the defeat of the March 27, 2007 EXCEL Capital Project vote. Board members say they have heard numerous theories from the voters as to why the EXCEL project didn’t garner enough public support to pass. After a lengthy dialogue that engaged all of the members, the board decided that the work included in the EXCEL project is important and that they will discuss putting it back out to the voters. "After discussion, the board felt that the work is important and it is the right time with state aid and EXCEL aid. They don’t want to lose the opportunity to use EXCEL aid," said Superintendent of Schools David V. Dinolfo. School Board President John McCreedy said conducting an exit poll at the polling site would have been best for collecting public opinion, however, he believes individual board members have collected opinions from all sides. He believes the district did not do an adequate job at communicating the facts about the work included and how state and EXCEL aid would provide the majority of the funding. Board members said that in the days following the March 27 EXCEL project vote, many residents reported that they forgot to vote or felt the project would pass easily so they didn’t make it a priority to vote. Others expressed that they believe the district had misguided priorities, evidenced in the Hamilton Field Sports Stadium project coming ahead of the heating systems in the elementary and middle schools. Residents also expressed that they opposed increased district spending and believed the middle school gym renovation and the technology expansion were unnecessary. McCreedy said most of the work in the project resulted in a zero percent impact to taxpayers. Replacing aged heating systems in the elementary and middle schools now while there is aid to cover the expenditure, is a good plan, McCreedy said. The board will discuss the extent of the future EXCEL project at its May meeting when they will also strategize about how the district plans to better communicate the upcoming project before it goes back to the voters. The regular school board meeting will follow the 2007-08 budget hearing, which begins at 7 p.m. in the elementary auditorium. The board meeting will move to the conference room in the district office. Both meetings are open to the public.
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Voters in the District reject $5.4
million EXCEL project
Voters in the Cal-Mum Central School District rejected a $5,040,000 million EXCEL capital project by 20 votes, 187 to 207. EXCEL funding is an allocation of aid to every school district in New York State to address needed building upgrades. Caledonia-Mumford was to receive $352,000 of EXCEL AID toward the project to address needed building improvements that included:
The district planned to use another $300,000 of capital reserve funds and an 85.6% in state building aid to fund the project with taxpayers contributing two cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. The minimal tax increase was not enough to gain voter approval and that has district officials considering what message the taxpayers were sending. "We don’t take this vote as a measure of a lack of support. Our community has a long history of supporting Cal-Mum Schools and will continue to do so in the future. What we heard in the EXCEL public hearing from some that were opposed to the project, was frustration with recent projects and concern over district spending and misguided priorities," Superintendent of School David V. Dinolfo said. Dinolfo said the Board of Education worked hard to maximize the EXCEL funding and to apply it to the five areas of work stipulated by the State which included technology, health and safety, campus accessibility for the disabled, expansion of adequate instructional space and energy reduction. "The public has made its decision and the board will respect that decision. We put up our best plan to address the needs and to take advantage of State Aid and EXCEL funding. We’ll have to come up with a better plan and engage the community in the solution. This work will have to be done sometime," the Superintendent explained.
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EXCEL Capital Project Eligible voters in the Caledonia-Mumford Central School district will go to the polls Tuesday, March 27 to decide on a proposed $5,040,000 capital project. The district will use $352,000 of EXCEL aid to help fund the project along with $300,000 of the district's capital reserve fund and 85.6% state building aid. EXCEL is an allocation of funding provided to every school district in New York State to address needed building improvements. Approval of the project would add two cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to the tax levy for the next 15 years (before STAR). Highlights of the project include replacing old boilers in both the elementary and middle school buildings, improved ventilation and casework, air conditioning the second floor elementary library and middle school computer lab, renovation of the middle school gymnasium, improved fire and security systems, updating the computer wiring system and installation of Smartboards. Some taxpayers have raised the question, "How does $352,000 of EXCEL aid and $300,000 of capital reserve funds generate a $5.4 million project? Business Manager Patrick Donegan explained that the State Education Department allots building aid to every school district in the state using a complicated formula. Caledonia-Mumford will receive 85.6% in return for every dollar spent on this project. State aid is money that legislators have included in the State budget to assist public schools with large capital projects. If Caledonia-Mumford does not use its share, it will be allocated to other schools in the State who are engaging in capital projects. Donegan explained. The news is even brighter concerning the proposed 2007-2008 annual school budget. As promised in his campaign, Gov. Elliot Spitzer has prepared a State budget that indicates reform in the funding of public education. Following the EXCEL Capital Project vote, the CM Board of Education is expected to adopt the proposed 2007-2008 budget which includes the largest increase in state aid ever for Cal-Mum and a zero per-cent increase to taxpayers. Superintendent of Schools David V. Dinolfo wrote in the recent school newsletter, "The proposed 2007-2008 school budget addresses the district's goals of maintaining good class sizes, adding college credit earning high school classes, expanding technology and implementing instructional improvements in the middle school." Voting for the EXCEL Capital Project will be held March 27 from noon until 9 p.m. in the middle school entrance. The School Board is expected to adopt the proposed 2007-2008 budget with a zero percent increase on the same night at their regular 7 p.m. meeting in the District Office. School Board meetings are open to the public.
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Cal-Mum joins other schools in EXCEL capital project Caledonia-Mumford Central School is joining dozens of other public schools in New York who are using EXCEL Aid to complete large capital projects. The Cal-Mum Board of Education unanimously approved the $5.040,000 project at their January 23, 2007 meeting. Eligible voters in the Cal-Mum School District will go to the polls Tuesday, March 27, 2007 to approve the EXCEL capital project. EXCEL AID is the result of an April 24, 2006 law signed into effect by former Gov. George Pataki. Expanding Our Children's Education and Learning provides an allocation of aid to every school district in New York State to address needed building upgrades. Caledonia-Mumford will receive $352,000 of EXCEL AID for a two year period that expires at the end of the 2007-08 school year. Projects eligible for EXCEL aid must fall within one or more of five areas:
Cal-Mum's EXCEL capital project will include work in areas 1, 2 and 5 and specifically encompasses:
Work at the elementary school, particularly the replacement of the boilers and the switch to a hot water heating system, will result in energy savings to further reduce annual costs and positively impact the future tax burden, report school district officials. "The work done at the elementary school will touch every classroom and will improve the heating and ventilation quality of the building," Superintendent of Schools David V. Dinolfo said. State aid will cover 85.6% of the project. The district will use the additional $352,000 of EXCEL aid together with $300,000 of capital reserve funds to fund a project total of $5,040,000 over 15 years. If approved, the project would increase property taxes by two cents per thousand of assessed value. A property valued at $100,000 would see a $2 increase in taxes per year. The star exemption for homeowners and senior citizens would further reduce the tax impact. The district will hold an EXCEL capital project budget hearing on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 in the Elementary School auditorium at 7 p.m. Voting will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2007 from noon until 9 p.m. in the Middle School entrance foyer. Absentee ballots are available in the district office or by calling 538-3401.
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CMCS uses EXCEL funds to address building upgrades Caledonia-Mumford Central School would like to use New York State EXCEL Aid to fund an upcoming capital project that addresses needed building upgrades, Superintendent of Schools David V. Dinolfo recently announced. EXCEL aid is the result of an April 24, 2006 law signed by Gov. George Pataki called, Expanding our Children’s Education and Learning. The EXCEL law provides an allocation to every school district in New York State to address building upgrades. Caledonia-Mumford CSD is entitled to receive $352,000 in EXCEL aid for work done in one of five areas:
The district plans to use $300,000 of capital reserve money along with the EXCEL aid to generate a $5,100,000 capital project that Dinolfo says would result in a minimal increase to taxpayers, perhaps as little as $1.00 a year over the life of the bond. The EXCEL Aid capital project requires voter/taxpayer approval. Items being considered for this project include:
The Board of Education will address the plans for the EXCEL Aid capital project at its next meeting on Tuesday, January 23, 2007. The public is invited to attend this meeting and learn more about this proposal.
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