Skip to main content
  1. News
  2. Post: Help Us Shape the Next Capital Project
April 10, 2025

Help Us Shape the Next Capital Project

Help Us Shape the Next Capital Project

Following the defeat of the Capital Project that was proposed in December 2023, the Board of Education Facilities Committee members have been listening to residents’ concerns and discussing the infrastructure needs that were not included in the 2016 Capital Project. 

  • The majority of these needs were identified as critical in the district’s most recent Building Condition Survey (completed in 2020) 
  • Some of these needs include work that voters passed in the 2021 Small Capital Project that focused on the bus garage but could not be completed due to cost escalation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
  • For archival information on all of our recent Capital Projects, please click on the Facilities webpage here

 

We invite Galway CSD community members to help us shape the next Capital Project by participating in the following public input sessions: 

  1. Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 2:45pm for faculty and staff
  2. Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 6pm for the community
  3. Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 6pm for the community
  4. Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 10am for an abbreviated session called Coffee and Questions during the Galway Booster Club Car Wash and Can Drive fundraiser

 

Here is a brief description of the work being considered: 

 

Transportation/Bus Garage

  • Reconstruct pavement with heavy duty asphalt at various locations (deferred from the 2021 project)
  • Replace the boiler and fuel pump (installed in 2000)
  • Replace the rubber roof over maintenance bays (active leaks, installed in 2000)
  • Replace underground fuel oil heating tanks at bus garage (installed in 2000) with above ground storage tanks (deferred from the 2021 project)
  • Remediate soil as necessary
  • Install new energy efficient interior LED lighting (in all parts of the building)  

The oil/water separator that was too small, not functioning well, and deferred from the 2021 project due to cost escalation was replaced in 2024-25 because it failed. When infrastructure fails and has to be replaced, the funds come out of the regular school budget, which not only takes resources away from teaching and learning but also removes the ability for the district to receive NYS Aid in the form of revenue in subsequent years. 

 

Infrastructure at the Junior/Senior High School

To maximize State Aid on any proposed Capital Project, the district has to allot a certain percentage of the project to interior work in the school. The 2021 Capital Project contained minor renovations to the following areas that were not touched in the 2016 Capital Project, however, these items were not completed due to cost escalation:

  • Restrooms near the auditorium
  • Restrooms near district offices

Additional Infrastructure Needs at the High School:

  • Replace an underground fuel tank in front of the Junior/Senior High School (installed in 1988) (deferred from the 2021 Capital Project)
  • Renovate restrooms near the science classrooms
  • Renovate the restroom in the 900 wing (lower level of the Junior High School)
  • Relocate the business classroom next to the agriculture room to allow for cross-curricular, real-life,business and agriculture activities and add a greenhouse that will feature a storefront/farm stand that will be open to the community.

 

Infrastructure at the Elementary School

  • Replace an underground fuel tank and system deferred from the 2021 Capital Project)
  • Replace the boiler and fuel pump
  • Renovate restrooms
  • Insulate ductwork and install electric heating coils in hallway(s) to mitigate condensation and slipping hazard

 

Safety

  • Create a secure vestibule for the Junior/Senior High School main entrance (similar to the JHE entrance)
  • Pave and light two parcels of land purchased in 2023, to enable safe parking and crossing during large events
    • Property A would add 94 new parking spots
    • Property B would add 36 new parking spots
    • Development of these lots would include a crosswalk on Sacandaga Road plus sidewalk and a crosswalk on Rt. 147 plus sidewalk on Parkis Mills to the Bus Garage
  • Pave and light the existing lot near the track

 

Athletics

  • Reconstruct the track, which has reached the end of its useful life and is not eligible to be a capital outlay project or an emergency project
  • Add bleachers built into the hill below the pavilion for an additional 150 seats
  • Add two field benches with cover, including concrete pads
  • Install field lighting to enable more night games to be played (the district currently rents lights for night games)
  • Upgrade audio system at the field
  • Upgrade electric service for lights  

 

Financing the Project

If everything outlined above is included in the project, and nothing is added or subtracted: 

  • 78.7% of the project will be eligible for NYS Building Aid, which is returned to the district in the form of revenue in subsequent years
  • The estimated total project cost would be $17.2 million

 

Timeline

Public Input Sessions: April 22, 2025 at 2:45 pm (for faculty and staff) and 6pm; May 15 at 6pm; May 24 at 10am

BOE to Adopt Referendum to put the project up for public vote: DATE

Public Vote on Proposed Project: October 28, 2025