To the Editor:

On Thursday, Nov. 14, Guilderland Central School District residents are asked to cast their vote on two proposed building projects totaling $18.2 million.  If approved by voters, the projects will address various essential internal and external building improvements districtwide.

Proposition 1, in the amount of $17,324,650, calls for upgrades to aging infrastructure in the district’s seven school buildings and improvements for safety, security, and technology systems districtwide.  Items identified for attention focus primarily on protecting the health and safety of students, staff, and visitors; addressing products, systems, or equipment that are at or near the end of life expectancy; and replacing failing or deteriorating building components.

Proposition 2, in the amount of $846,300, includes renovations and upgrades to the high school auditorium and calls for the replacement of wooden light tower poles on the high school football field/track.  These items address the need for the district to continue to provide for quality learning experiences beyond the classroom.

We believe that the projects going before voters will enable Guilderland Central School District to provide safe and well-maintained facilities to support student learning and achievement, and will address many of the district’s long-range needs.

Equally important, we also believe that the projects up for consideration will protect the community’s long-term investment in its schools.  Many of the upgrades proposed will also improve the district’s energy efficiency, resulting in cost savings for the district down the road.

Other items are directly related to health and safety concerns (ventilation, flooring, traffic patterns, etc.), or through their failure (heating systems and roofs in need of replacement, upgrades to electrical systems, etc.), have the potential to disrupt the educational process.

We take seriously our responsibility to be good stewards of our community’s investment in our school district’s facilities.  We believe that the proposals up for public vote address our most essential building needs.

Please take a few minutes on vote day to cast your ballot regarding our capital improvement projects.  Polls will be open at all elementary school buildings from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.  For more information on the upcoming building project referendum, please visit www.guilderlandschools.org.

Marie Wiles
Superintendent of Schools
Guilderland

Editor’s note: See related story.