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WCSD MASTER PLAN REFERENDUM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is meant by the terms Master Plan and Five Year Plan?
Master Plan:
Since August 2003 the District has, through the efforts of staff, community
volunteers, board members and professional consultants, worked diligently to
develop a long-range vision. This vision addresses projected student
enrollments, facilities, class sizes, grade alignment, feeder patterns,
educational programs and services, a middle-level education model, and full-
day kindergarten. This planned vision is known as the District’s Master Plan.
Five-Year Plan:
The District’s Five-Year Plan identifies and prioritizes projects of a
capital construction nature such as roof replacements, paving, and heating
and ventilating system upgrades, and schedules this work over the course of
a five-year period. The plan document is updated annually. To date, this
work has been funded via the District’s annual budget and periodic
referendums.
Does the work being proposed satisfy all of the goals identified in the
District’s Master Plan?
The proposition directly addresses four of the six Master Plan goals by
providing:
Consistent grade level configurations (K-5, 6-8, 9-12)
Creating a clear attendance path (feeder patterns) among schools as students
move from kindergarten through high school
Implementing the middle school education model at both Van Wyck and
Wappingers Junior High Schools
Placing special education intervention services into each elementary school
The proposition partially addresses Master Plan class size guidelines but
does not address full-day kindergarten. These goals may be addressed in
greater detail in the near future.
Although not included as Master Plan goals, yet to be addressed is the need
for a transportation facility, as well as permanent locations for the
District’s alternative high school and administrative offices, and
improvements to the District’s athletic fields and facilities.
How does the vision of the Master Plan equate to the need for additional
instructional space in our existing buildings?
Instructional space needs to be developed in our existing buildings for both
programmatic and logistical reasons. The vision is to have ten K-5 schools,
two middle schools (grades 6-8), two high schools, and one alternative high
school, with improved class sizes, consistency in programs, stable feeder
patterns, and special education services available in every building. It is
impossible to merge all of the District’s sixth grade students into our
current junior high schools without planned renovations and additions.
Additional instructional spaces are also needed to keep elementary class
sizes from possibly increasing to 30 or more students should future
enrollments increase as a result of the housing start potential that exists,
particularly in the southern portion of the District.
The proposed proposition seeks authority to spend up to $107,137,282. How
will these funds be spent?
Of the total funding authorization being sought, it is estimated that a
maximum of $88,447,752 would be used to renovate and expand our two junior
high schools as we look to adopt a consistent middle school program that
would accommodate maximum enrollments of 1,600 students per school in a 6-8
grade-level configuration. As a result of eliminating sixth grade centers,
feeder patterns could be established to insure that families will know in
advance the planned K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 schools of attendance in a student’s K-
12 career.
The balance of the expenditure authorization, up to an estimated maximum of
$18,689,530, would be used to address prioritized capital construction
projects at each of twelve other District schools as contained in the
District’s Five-Year Plan.
What portion of the total cost is state aidable and how will the receipt of
aid be scheduled?
Under the current state building aid formula, the District should be
entitled to receive aid on 58.3% of approved project costs. Approved project
costs usually range from between 95% - 100% of total actual costs. The
middle school additions and renovations scheduled as part of the scope of
the Master Plan work will be aided over a period of 20 years. The district-
wide reconstruction projects included as part of the District’s Five-Year
Plan will be aided over a period of 15 years. Of the total $107,137,282
maximum authorization being sought, it is estimated that approximately $58
million will be returned to the District in the form of aid.
What will be the impact on my school tax bill?
The borrowings associated with the projects will be phased in over the life
of the projects. The first payment that will have an impact on the tax levy
is expected to occur in the 2009-2010 school year. Debt service payments
will be partially offset by the retirement of current debt.
The average household, assessed at $350,000, is expected to see an estimated
annual increase of approximately $74 when the project is fully completed.
On what basis were Five-Year Plan projects selected to be part of the
proposition and what types of projects have been included?
The District’s Five-Year Plan is updated annually. Projects are identified,
prioritized and scheduled for completion during a five-year period with
respect to health and safety issues and program needs. Projects included
within the proposition represent categories of work that had been scheduled
for completion in what would have been years one through three of the Five-
Year Plan. Barring extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances, all of these
projects will be completed by September 2012.
Some of the types of projects include roof resurfacing, municipal water and
sewer hookups, boiler replacements, bathroom renovations and heating and
ventilating upgrades. A complete list of projects by building is included in
the Master Plan edition of WCSD In Print or you may consult the District’s
web site (www.wappingersschool.org).
Are artificial turf athletic fields included in this referendum?
No. However, turf fields are currently being researched for a possible
future referendum.
Years ago the District experienced comparable enrollments. Why is there a
need now for more space?
Federal laws passed since the 1970’s require districts to provide special
education services to disabled students in settings such as resource rooms
and self-contained classes, and related services including adaptive physical
education, physical and occupational therapy, speech, social work, school
psychologists, and testing accommodations. All of these require additional
classroom, office and therapy space.
No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation now mandates Academic Intervention
Services (AIS), which include counseling, occupational and physical therapy,
and speech, as well as support with academic subjects.
In the past, only art, music, library, and physical education were offered
to elementary students. Today we also offer enrichment and computer classes.
Federal laws now mandate English as a Second Language (ESL) services for an
increasing number of identified students within the District.
It was not uncommon to have class sizes of 30 or more students in the past.
Now, the Board of Education goals seek to reduce the number of students in
each class to 20 in kindergarten, 22 in grades 1 and 2, and 25 in grades 3-
5. The middle school additions may also enable the District to reduce class
sizes in the secondary schools as well.
When WCSD population was at its highest, several grade levels were on split
sessions.
In the past there was often no dedicated space for art and music programs.
Art was provided on carts and music was taught on the stage.
Over the last 20 years New York State has increased the number and types of
courses students must take at the junior high and high school levels. The
number of credits required to graduate has grown significantly in the last
five years.
Years ago schools did not have even one computer classroom. Today, students
enjoy access to computer classrooms which help prepare them to live and work
in a technology age.
What physical changes will occur in each of the junior high schools?
Van Wyck will gain approximately 43,000 square feet. This additional space
will accommodate a gym, cafeteria, computer classroom, two large
group/ensemble rooms, technology rooms, two small group instruction rooms, a
new library/media center and a net gain of 15 new classrooms after the
removal of the modular classrooms. Existing space will be redesigned to
create another Family and Consumer Science room and special education
classrooms. Grade levels will be grouped in their own area of the building.
The baseball field will be relocated and improved.
Wappingers Junior High will gain approximately 82,750 square feet to be used
for a large cafeteria on the first floor, four small group instruction
rooms, a computer classroom, a technology room, a large gym, and 44 new
classrooms. The proposed addition will preserve the unique architectural
style of the building while adding needed space. The re-design includes one
new field for sports activities.
I keep hearing the term “Middle School Model”. Aside from a 6-8 grade level
configuration, how does this model differ from a junior high school program?
Junior high schools operate with students moving from period to period with
no “connection” to the teachers or to the subject they are studying.
The “Middle School Model” recognizes that the years between the ages of 11-
14 (grades 6-8) are a critical time for shaping the direction that a student
will take in life. Teachers are trained in how to motivate the adolescent
learner. They work with each other as teams to provide interesting and
meaningful lessons that help students connect school with the “real” world.
Students are given the opportunity to explore and develop their interests
and abilities outside the classroom in a safe, supportive environment.
Discipline is used to teach students how to make better choices. The “Middle
School Model” welcomes and encourages parental partnership in education. We
will be able to fully implement a middle school approach in the District
once both schools include grades 6-8.
What will happen when 6th grade classes are moved out of the elementary
schools? Will redistricting be necessary?
It is our goal to make sure each elementary school has enough space for its
own special education classes, therapist rooms, conference rooms, computer
classrooms and small group instruction rooms in addition to the needed K-5
classrooms. In order to do this, some schools will lose one or two
classrooms while schools with 6th grade centers will gain classrooms.
Because of this we will need to redistrict in order to make sure no school
is overcrowded or under-populated and to target class sizes of 20-25 in each
school. Redistricting will take place once both middle school additions and
renovations are complete.
What will some of the advantages be for the District’s special education
programs?
Historically, due to space limitations, special education students have had
to leave their home school and, in some cases, have been transferred within
the District as many as three times during their elementary school careers
in order to receive mandated special education services. Under the
proposition, special education students will receive services in their home
school. Every elementary school will have integrated (inclusion), self
contained and resource room settings for all grade levels. Communication
classes (K-2, 3-5) will remain a district wide program housed at Myers
Corners Elementary School.
The plan also provides dedicated office and therapy space in each school for
our school psychologists, social workers, and speech, occupational and
physical therapists.
Other than the annual debt service cost that will need to be budgeted for
the actual construction and renovations, what other types of costs will need
to be budgeted in future years?
To implement the Master Plan goals there will be a need to add the following
staff as construction is completed:
Nine elementary teachers
Five special education teachers
One teacher each for art, music and physical education
One teaching assistant
Five school monitors
Assistant principal
Nurse
One full-time and two part-time office positions
Four night custodians
One-half maintenance mechanic
Estimated initial staffing cost increases with benefits: $2,079,235
Estimated initial utility cost increases: $180,000
Estimated initial equipment and supply cost increases: $24,000
How will any increased traffic flow be accommodated under the planned
expansions at the new Wappingers Middle School?
Two new parking lot areas with approximately 232 spaces for staff are
planned, along with a third parking area containing 70 new spaces for
visitors. Also included are 18 new bus loading spaces.
The installation of a traffic signal is planned for the intersection of
Major McDonald Way and Middlebush Road along with improved striping to
provide a shared “thru/left” and an exclusive right turn lane from the
school.
What will be the proposed construction timeline?
We expect that the renovations and additions to the new Van Wyck Middle
School will be finished by September 2011 and that all 6th grade classes
from Fishkill, Brinckerhoff, Gayhead, and Fishkill Plains will be moved
accordingly.
The renovations and additions to the new Wappingers Middle School should be
completed by September 2012, housing all 6th grade classes from Evans,
Sheafe Road, Vassar Road, Kinry Road, Oak Grove and Myers Corners.
Since the funding authorization being sought represents the costs for Master
Plan and Five-Year Plan projects, why aren’t two separate propositions being
presented?
Separately, neither proposition will meet the planned needs of the District.
There is $14.2 million in renovation work that must be done in the middle
schools such as boilers, ceiling tiles, bathroom renovations, and municipal
water and sewer hookups. By combining the work we would be able to realize
economies of scale and efficiencies as a result of structured bid packages
and the scheduling of work.
Possible scenarios if we were to split the proposition:
1. If middle school infrastructure work is in the Five-Year Plan and:
Five-Year Plan passes and Master Plan additions do not pass: We will have
infrastructure support for an addition that can’t be built per the District
needs. Note: the cost for this Five-Year Plan would then have to be $14.2
million higher than what you will see in the current proposition because the
middle school items would have to be put back into it.
Master Plan additions pass but Five-Year Plan does not pass: We will have
additions to the middle schools but no infrastructure support for these or
any other buildings.
2. If middle school infrastructure work is included in the Master Plan and:
Five-Year Plan passes and additions do not pass: Inequity - The middle
schools would have no additions or renovations but the other schools in the
District would have what they need.
Master Plan additions pass but Five-Year Plan does not pass: Inequity -
Additions and renovations would be completed at the middle schools but there
would be no funding for any of the needed renovations in the other twelve
schools.
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