Capital Projects

Building on Progress, Investing in the Future

After months of collaborative work with district leaders, staff, students, families and community members, the Ichabod Crane CSD Board of Education has unanimously adopted the two Capital Project propositions, which will go to a community vote on December 16.

Polls are open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the High School Gymnasium.

At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Board of Education unanimously approved (7-0) a resolution to place two propositions on the ballot for a referendum on December 16.

In this year’s Fall Newsletter, we take a close look at the proposed Capital Project. Inside the newsletter, you’ll find an overview of the project’s goals and its estimated financial impact — part of our ongoing commitment to provide transparent information ahead of the vote.

A capital project functions much like a home renovation: an investment that helps maintain and improve our schools over time. Just as homes need updates to stay safe and efficient, our buildings require periodic upgrades to support today’s educational needs. These large-scale improvements are funded separately from the annual operating budget and allow districts to receive New York State Building Aid for eligible expenses.

Highlights of the project include adding air conditioning to every Primary School classroom, replacing the Main Playfield and Running Track Surface, creating a new Middle School Engineering Technology Lab and completely renovating the Middle School Art, Music and World Language spaces. The project also includes a reconfiguration of a position of the Middle School Physical Education areas, featuring updated locker rooms and a new concession stand, vestibule and an adaptive PE space designed for use by students, staff and the community.

The goal of the proposed Capital Project set for a vote on December 16 is threefold – upgrading aging infrastructure, supporting future-ready instruction and creating spaces that enhance student well-being.

This project continues a cycle of investments that most recently began in 2012 with upgrades to the High School library, gym and locker rooms – followed by the 2014 Primary School addition and the 2018 Capital Project, which included the creation of the High School STEAM Wing, premiere gymnasium at the Middle School and key safety upgrades.

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We recognize the financial challenges faced by many of our staff, students, families and community members. That’s why the district has worked closely with its financial advisors at BPD, Inc. to develop a financing plan that maximizes New York State Building Aid (73.5%), aligns with retiring debt and utilizes existing district capital reserves. This approach is designed to minimize the local tax impact while still addressing facility needs.

For every dollar spent on eligible improvements, approximately 73.5 cents will be reimbursed to the district through New York State Building Aid.

In the video below, you hear directly from district leaders and Board of Education members as they explain the plan and get to see our students in the spaces slated for major upgrades. It really brings the project to life!

We know you may have questions about what a Capital Project entails, so we’ve prepared a comprehensive FAQ. This resource outlines the project’s scope, anticipated impact, and timeline, as well as essential information regarding the upcoming community vote. Click here to read the full FAQ.

Here’s an example of one of the questions:

  • What is a Capital Project?

Answer: A capital project is like a home improvement project, but for a school district. Just like a home, school buildings and grounds require regular maintenance and care to function as intended and to keep pace with the district’s academic goals and plans. Over time, the cost of addressing normal wear and tear can exceed what the annual operating budget can cover.

Under New York State law, all public schools must complete a Building Condition Survey every five years. We completed our last Building Condition Survey in 2023 in preparation for this project.

This survey reviews all occupied school buildings and grounds throughout the district, identifies potential improvements and prioritizes needs. The results are submitted to the NYS Education Department and then studied by the district and Board of Education.

In regard to this proposed Capital Project, beginning in fall 2024, district leaders reached out to families, faculty, staff and students to help shape the scope of the project. This included surveys completed by more than 110 community members, meetings with over 30 faculty and staff members from across the district and feedback from students across K-12.

Capital improvement projects allow school districts to access state aid and complete larger-scale facility upgrades that go beyond what the regular budget can support.

For this project, Ichabod Crane is eligible for 73.5% reimbursement on all eligible expenses, helping to reduce the local cost while addressing facility needs.

This means that for every dollar spent, we will receive 73.5 cents back as New York State Building Aid.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Beginning in 2028, depending on the results of the December 16 Proposition Votes, taxes on a home valued at $300,000 are estimated to increase as follows:

  • Proposition 1: Additional $30-$42/year ($2.50-$3.50/month)
  • Proposition 2: Additional $6-$8/year ($0.50-$0.67/month)
  • Combined Total: Additional $36-50/year ($3.00-$4.17/month)

PROJECT STRUCTURE

The finalized plan is divided into two propositions:

Proposition 1 – All infrastructure improvements and renovations at the Primary School, Middle School, High School, Bus Garage and replacement of the Main Playfield with natural grass and the replacement of the Running Track Surface. Total cost: $31,281,651.

Proposition 2 – Additional funding of $2,018,270 for replacing the Main Playfield with synthetic turf. Proposition 2 can only pass if Proposition 1 passes.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Primary School

  • Air conditioning in every classroom
  • Kitchen renovation
  • Playground improvements

Middle School

  • New Engineering Technology Lab with spaces for wood and metal fabrication, computer-assisted design, 3D printers, CNC engravers and expanded storage
  • Renovated Music, Art, and World Language classrooms
  • Overhaul of Main Office and Counseling/Psychology spaces
  • Renovated locker rooms and new PE multipurpose room accessible to both students and community programs

The Middle School Main Offices and Counseling Spaces currently face challenges such as overcrowding, limited space, inadequate soundproofing and a lack of natural light. The planned improvements will create offices and spaces that are appropriately sized, better equipped and more conducive to supporting students and staff.

High School

  • Kitchen renovation
  • Replacement of windows (100/200 wings) and doors (200 wing)
  • Replacement of the Main Playfield and running track surface 

Bus Garage

  • Replacement of metal siding, windows, exterior doors and bus lifts
  • Bathroom renovation

A key central priority of this project is supporting student well-being through upgrades in Physical Education and Athletics. Among these enhancements is the replacement of the Main Playfield, which has reached the end of its lifespan. The field serves not only as an athletic facility but also as the site of milestone ceremonies such as High School Graduation and Middle School Moving Up, as well as community events.

The replacement options are natural grass or synthetic turf.  Proposition 1 includes the cost for replacing the field with natural grass and Proposition 2 provides the additional funding for synthetic turf. 

Natural Grass vs Turf Comparison

  • Estimated Installation Costs – $927,000 for natural grass; $2.98 million for synthetic turf
  • Annual Maintenance Costs – $55,000 for grass; $2,700 for turf 
  • Play Time Hours Per Week – 10 hours for grass; 40 hours for turf

Over a 15-year period, synthetic turf is more cost-effective than natural grass at Ichabod Crane. When factoring in New York State Building Aid at 73.5% for installation and ongoing annual maintenance, which is roughly 20 times higher for natural grass, synthetic turf proves to be the more economical option.

A synthetic turf field would also allow the district to double the amount of time the field can be used, expanding opportunities for Physical Education classes and increasing access for community groups and local youth organizations. While natural grass fields are recommended for about 10 hours of use per week, the district’s current Main Playfield is used for roughly 20 hours weekly. With synthetic turf, that usage could increase to approximately 40 hours per week.

We have created a video to help explain the differences between natural grass and synthetic turf. In the video, we provide an overview of the two options. We’ve also prepared an information flyer that you can access here or view below. 

Another resource is Cornell University’s webpage on sports field management.

Enhanced Physical Education Spaces 

Proposition 1 includes a full renovation of the Middle School locker rooms — spaces that play an essential role in supporting student well-being, social-emotional learning and physical fitness. The locker rooms, original to the building, are now in serious disrepair. Photos at the bottom of this page show current conditions.

The linked architectural design highlights the plans for the complete overhaul of the locker rooms, along with a series of other PE improvements that began in 2018. This includes upgrades to provide direct access to the exterior, a large lobby and vestibule (creating a space to celebrate Rider Pride and more), concession stand and increased athletic and PE storage. The reconfiguration of this space also allows us to create a new dedicated adaptive PE space, a multipurpose room for small and large PE instruction, community usage and Adult Education classes. 

Proposition 1 also replaces the Running Track Surface, which surrounds our Main Playfield. The current track surface is in need of significant repairs. This space serves as a practice area for our athletic teams, an instructional space for physical education and other classes, and a community hub regularly used by outside athletic clubs and local residents for exercise. 

At the heart of this project is our shared mission: putting students first. 

If you have seen Superintendent Digirolamo, other administrators and members of the Board of Education at recent community events, it’s because we are doing everything we can to share information about this project with our community. We want our residents to have the facts, understand why this work matters for Ichabod — both now and for the future — and head to the polls on December 16 ready to make an informed decision. 

If the referendum is approved, the district will begin detailed design development in 2026, followed by permitting and bidding. Construction would tentatively begin in July 2027 with project closeout projected in 2029.

The Capital Project Referendum December 2025 represents the next step in Ichabod Crane’s mission to provide innovative, future-ready learning environments.

Resources and Publications: