New York town approves $57.4 million in school improvements

Voters in the northern New York town of Gouverneur last month approved a $57.4 million Capital Improvement Project (CIP) that will update all three of the school district’s buildings, add a state-of-the-art athletic stadium and renovate the bus garage.

The state of New York will cover 83.8% of the total cost. The remaining $9.6 million will be supplied by the school board’s reserve fund voters approved in 2020. Design work is already underway, with construction expected in late spring 2025.

The bulk of the funding – $38.6 million – will renovate the district’s high school campus, including its swimming pool complex, band and choral suites, auditorium, auxiliary gym, main entrance, nurse’s suite and bathrooms.

Upgrades to the swimming pool complex include installing a water heater, renovating the locker room and adding dehumidification and filtration systems. The band and choral suites will receive better equipment and materials such as sound panels.

Planned improvements for the school’s auditorium include upgrading the theatrical lighting for seating and stage areas. The auxiliary gym, bathroom and nurse’s suite will all be upgraded to meet ADA standards.

To increase safety, the school’s main entrance will be moved to provide a secure vestibule entry point. Additionally, the nurse suite will be moved closer to the high school’s main entrance.

The new stadium will be built on district-owned land at the middle school. Currently, the district leases a football field at the local fairgrounds. The new facility will feature an artificial football field and track, field lights, bleachers, concessions and bathroom facilities.

All three district buildings will receive emergency generators, parking lot improvements and security upgrades. Additionally, several improvements to the bus garage are planned, including upgrading the fuel dispensing system, bus wash bay, sidewalk, pole barn, interior infrastructure and ventilation system.

A separate ballot measure authorizing $555,520 in funds to buy three diesel-engine buses did not pass. Gouverneur is located north of Syracuse.