February 2010

Dear Parents of Menands School Students and Residents of Menands School District:

The Menands School District is seeking voter approval to move forward with a capital project that will allow us to make two critical repairs in the school. As required by the State Education Department, the school district recently completed a maintenance survey of the structural aspects of the school building and grounds. Of no surprise to anyone, the survey confirmed that two areas of the building are in need of immediate repair. Due to our concerns for the safety of students and staff and our commitment to preserving the integrity of the school building, the Menands Board of Education has approved a proposal for a small renovation project to address these two problems. We are writing to inform you of the proposed renovations and to ask you to vote in the public referendum on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, from 12:00-9:00 p.m.

Problem #1 - The east and north walls of the middle school wing have endured many years of water damage due to problems with the original roof construction in that part of the building. These walls are severely damaged and need to be rebuilt before they collapse. If the renovation project is approved by the voters, the district will reconstruct the east and north walls, replace the insulation and windows, create an extension of the roof, and improve the drainage along the ground of the middle school wing.

Examples of water damage in the middle school wing:

Problem #2 - The school library currently has a “reading pit” that was originally intended as an area in which students could sit and relax while reading library books. Because the “reading pit” is lower than the floor of the rest of the library, this presents a serious danger from tripping and falling for students, staff, and community members using the library. If the renovation project is approved by the voters, the district will fill in the reading pit and re-carpet that part of the school.

Examples of the "reading pit":

Costs and Financing - The total cost of the renovation project is estimated to be $335,000. To finance the project, the district will use EXCEL AID from the state ($74,346), regular state aid ($75,329), money from the district’s reserve account for building repairs ($147,611), and money from this year’s fund balance ($37,714). The district will not need to borrow money or increase taxes to finance the project. If approved by the voters, the renovations will largely be completed during the summer of 2010.

Important Dates - Please join us on Monday, March 8, in the school library at 6:30 p.m., for a presentation on the proposed renovations. For school district residents who are not already registered to vote, voter registration will take place in the school lobby on Wednesday, March 10, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Voting on the project will take place on Tuesday, March 16, from 12:00-9:00 p.m. To register to vote, a person must be a citizen of the United States, must be at least 18 years of age, and must have lived in the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

We welcome your questions about this important proposal and hope that you will participate in the presentation on March 8 and the referendum on March 16.

Ms. Kathy Meany                                    Mr. Paul Dignum

Superintendent                                    Board of Education President