text: OESJ school board adopts resolution for capital project - News - Times Telegram - Herkimer, NY
  OESJ school board adopts resolution for capital project
  Jan 10, 2017 at 3:02 PM Jan 10, 2017 at 3:02 PM
  ST. JOHNSVILLE — The Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Board of Education took the next step in moving forward with the school district's capital project.
  The board adopted a bond resolution for the project during a meeting Wednesday, according to district Superintendent David Halloran. The vote was 6-0, with board President Mary Weaver absent.
  The bond resolution states the board has been authorized "not to exceed $19,819,806 aggregate principal amount of serial general obligation bonds and the expenditure of $4,196,194 from the capital reserve fund to finance the construction of additions to and the reconstruction of various district buildings, at a maximum cost of $24,016,000."
  Halloran said in an email Friday while it was "satisfying" to have the bond resolution adopted, it was still just the beginning. He said the district hopes to have final construction plans submitted to the state Education Department by July 1, with an anticipated approval of Jan. 1, 2018.
  "We would then submit bids in approximately one year from now," he said. "I'm very happy for the district. When these projects are complete, both campuses will be modernized in terms of safety, efficiency and functionality. To accomplish this without impacting the tax base will be an achievement."
  Voters approved the $24.016 million project on Dec. 13.
  District officials said the project is focused on four areas: Improved security and safety for students and staff; improved energy efficiency; replacement and upgrade of existing systems and development or enhancement of educational spaces.
  In other business, the board approved the following as teachers or substitutes to participate in the Beyond the Bell program: Staci Battisti, Russ Bellinger, Amanda Blanc, Rachel Brownell, Samantha Carter, Courtney Crozier, Shoann Etherton, Michele Ferraro, Jill Fredericks, Michelle Gentile, Annette Greco, Karen Jones, Courtney LaQuay, Samantha Lynch, Linda Mang, Sue Pedrick, Heidi Snell and Brianna Urich. Halloran said Beyond the Bell "is an elementary enrichment program after school that will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays." It is funded through a Rural Schools grant.
  Halloran also said the board discussed the Circle 50 grading policy, which would "create an opportunity for a high school student who had a particularly bad quarter to receive a 50 percent grade for that quarter rather than a really low quarterly grade that he or she may have actually earned. The 'Circle 50' still provides that student a fighting chance to raise their cumulative average over the remaining quarters to an overall passing percentage."
  Halloran noted "many districts have similar policies or procedures in our region."
  The board also approved an extra duty payment of $500 a month to Bruce LaQuay for overseeing the vacant director of facilities position.