OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen
Board of Education President Steve Johnston, left, and Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox, right, are shown during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting, the final public meeting before the District’s Capital Project vote.
Due to the lake-effect snowstorm, Friday will be the day the Fredonia Central School District holds its Capital Project vote. The Fredonia High School Cafeteria will be staged for voters to make their voices heard on the largest project ever proposed by the District, which totals $52 million in work across three propositions to be voted on separately at the time to vote.
The vote was supposed to be today, but once school closed the vote shifted to Friday.
The three proposals are as follows: Proposition 1, keeping students warm, safe, and dry; Proposition 2, investing in our music students; and Proposition 3, updating facilities for our student athletes. Proposition No. 1 accounts for $22.1 million of maintenance work; Proposition No. 2 accounts for $10 million of work to enhance music spaces; and Proposition No. 3 accounts for $19.6 million of work to athletic facilities, including the installation of a multi-purpose turf field.
If all three propositions pass, a 10% tax increase will be imposed on District taxpayers. The later propositions in order are contingent upon the earlier propositions passing, meaning that Proposition 2 first requires Proposition 1 to pass, and Proposition 3 requires Proposition 1 and 2 to pass. The tax impact is defined by the District as a “one time increase”, beginning in the 2025-26 fiscal year. The amount increased that year would then “level off” and remain as a dedicated portion of the annual tax bill for the anticipated 17-year repayment period.
Prior to the vote, Fredonia teachers and residents Jesse Beers and Andy Bennett spoke one last time at a Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening in favor of the project and against recent criticism. Beers and Bennett were both critical of a recent OBSERVER’s View in opposition of the project, favoring sharing facilities over building and expanding.
Beers and Bennett both highlighted the logistical issues in doing so, while Bennett also broke down the cost of bussing to another district for music department rehearsals. Using the costs in the current transportation contract as a guide, Bennett estimated a cost of nearly $3.7 million more than the proposed capital project upgrades, a total of $10 million in Proposition 2, to bus students to Forestville for rehearsals and other events.
Beers thanked the Board, stating that the Board has “continually put our students first.” Bennett called the project “a vital next step.”
District residents who are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, and who have been residents of the District for at least 30 days prior to the vote are eligible to vote.
“We are encouraging everybody to come on out and have their voice heard in this process,” said Superintendent Dr. Brad Zilliox.
With harsh weather in recent weeks and a weather warning in place through the scheduled vote, Zilliox addressed the possibility of the vote not being held as scheduled.
In crafting the legal notices for the vote, the District included language to allow for the vote to be postponed if weather or other circumstances force a closure of the District buildings. It is likely that a cancellation of school will result in a postponement of the vote.
The District is in contact with the Chautauqua County Board of Elections regarding contingency plans in case the vote must be postponed. If it is postponed, the vote will be held on the “next available date that would be absolutely safe,” according to Zilliox.
As of 24 hours prior to the polls opening, the District still had plans to hold the vote as scheduled. Voters are encouraged to check the District’s social media pages and the official District website for updates. A potential postponement would be announced by the District prior to the polls opening at 2 p.m.