The William Floyd School District hosted a capital project vote on Wednesday, March 26. The community passed the $78.5 million proposed facilities capital improvement project, with 618 yes votes to 105 no votes.

The project, according to the district, will be at zero additional cost to the taxpayers. The next step is for design documents to be sent to the New York State Education Department, which will provide approvals in anywhere from 40 to 60 weeks. The first project could begin at some point in the summer or fall of 2026, with final completion taking anywhere from 36 to 60 months after that.

“This is possible because New York State provides nearly 88 percent reimbursement on capital costs ($0.879 cents) per $1 spent, and through smart financial planning, the district has created (and residents approved) three capital reserve funds over the past four years,” the William Floyd Board of Education explained in a letter to the community.

The project, according to the district, will address several key areas encompassing all buildings. Projects will include but are not limited to repairing aging infrastructure such as pavements, plumbing, communication systems, and providing expanded classroom spaces for additional opportunities for students. 

In addition to the aging infrastructure repair, the project will also expand the CTE program at the WFHS, enhance facilities, redesign the entrances at Paca and WFHS, update STEM classrooms with indoor and outdoor spaces at Paca, and add multipurpose athletic fields at the high school.

The three capital reserve funds, established and approved by residents in May 2021 ($5 million), May 2022 ($5 million) and May 2024 ($10 million), plus interest earned, will account for the local share, with the rest of the cost (87.9 percent) reimbursed to the district by New York State Building Aid.

The district recently conducted the New York State Education Department’s required five-year building condition survey, which has identified several areas that will need to be addressed to continue keeping all buildings operational, safe, and compliant to all New York State codes.

“We are pleased with the outcome of the capital project vote and the 85 percent passage rate from our community,” said superintendent of schools Dr. Kevin Coster, noting the project includes necessary repairs across the district, as well as numerous enhancements including a 36,000-square-foot expansion to the Career and Technical Education program at William Floyd High School, which will provide even more opportunities for students. “This project will also include renovated elementary school libraries, upgrades to existing science and music rooms, a new multi-purpose athletic field at William Floyd Middle School and much more. The best part of the project is that it will be at zero additional cost to residents. We are grateful to all who came out to vote.”