BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

MASSENA -- The Massena Central School District is moving ahead with a capital project to improve heating, ventilation, air conditioning and the high school pool this year.

A vote on the project is slated for May 20 when voters head to the polls to approve the district's budget, however the fine details of the projects are still being worked out, according to school officials.

Superintendent Ron Burke said district officials are continuing to whittle down the project budget and reestablishing priorities to put money into the most critical aspects of the project.

One major hangup is the price tag for the HVAC system, which Burke said could be around $37 million. That expense would be in part because the district would also upgrade the plant and put air conditioning all throughout the high school.

He said after receiving that estimate the board of education "went back to the drawing board."

District officials continue to work with architects and engineers from King + King, the firm hired last year to oversee the next capital project.

A list of essential work to be done is currently being fleshed out, which will include a reliable heat and air conditioning system.

Burke has said on multiple occasions that major areas that will receive AC and HVAC upgrades include the auditorium, cafeteria, gymnasium and media center.

Those areas have long been overdue and will be included in the next capital project, he said.

Another project that keeps being raised is the high school pool, which has been described as being in "dire need," for several years now.

Burke said the boiler to the pool failed recently, including just last month, forcing the district to shut it down while repairs could be administered.

He said the boiler is not easily repairable despite being "four or five years old," however the location to access it, coupled with its task of heating chlorine water has wreaked havoc on the boiler.

That led to the pool being shut down, despite the district typically hosting swim classes throughout the year.

He said future plans include a redesign, possibly with a different heating method, that ensures such shutdowns are not required in the future.

In the end, Burke said the end goal is to present a capital project to taxpayers that has zero impact on taxes while repairing and improving infrastructure in the district that will last for years to come.

Budget sessions are also planned for this spring, allowing voters to weigh in on the proposed 2025-26 budget.

The two forums, which are not required, will be held Feb. 13 and March 20 for the public to voice their opinions on the proposed budget.

School officials say a required budget hearing will be held May 8, with district residents taking to the polls on May 20.

Though board of education members had considered cutting the public forums, they have instead opted to continue with the forums that became commonplace under former Superintendent Pat Brady.

Board of Education President Paul Haggett said he originally discussed his concerns with Superintendent Ron Burke when the idea of eliminating the forums was originally broached.

“There is no requirement to have public forums. I actually asked Mr. Burke about that this year when we were doing budget development. There were no public forums scheduled and I questioned it and received assurances, and I was pointed to education law that said no, you have to have a public hearing. You don’t have to have public forums,” Haggett said.

Haggett said he previously believed the forums were a requirement when he was drafting the Finance Committee charter but later learned they were never legally required.

Despite that, district officials say they plan to keep two forums in place for public feedback as budget preparations are in full swing.

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