Our school district is committed to providing safe, functional and future-ready learning environments for all students. To maintain and improve our facilities, Ichabod Crane is proposing a Capital Project that addresses aging infrastructure, enhances student well-being and supports long-term academic and community goals. The project goes to a vote on December 16.
We know you may have questions about what a Capital Project entails, how it will be funded and what impact it could have on students, staff and the community.
This FAQ provides clear answers to help you understand the scope, impact and timeline of the proposed project, as well as important information about the upcoming community vote.
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- 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.
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- Do Ichabod Crane district residents vote on the Capital Project?
Answer: Yes. The Board of Education voted unanimously in October to approve two propositions that will appear on the ballot during the community vote on December 16. Eligible registered voters living in the district will have the opportunity to vote on both propositions, outlined below.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the High School Gymnasium.
Residents can also vote by absentee and early mail ballots. You must submit an application to vote by mail or absentee ballot. You can obtain an application on the district’s Voting and Election Information page or by contacting District Clerk Mindy Potts at 518-758-7575 ext. 3001 or mpotts@ichabodcrane.org.
Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk:
- At least seven (7) days before the Capital Project Vote if the ballot will be mailed to the voter
- By December 15, 2025 if the application is delivered in person to the District Clerk at Ichabod Crane’s Central Office
Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than
5:00 p.m. on December 16, 2025.
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- What does the proposed Capital Project include?
Answer: The finalized Capital Project plan is divided into two propositions.
Proposition 1 includes all infrastructure improvements and renovations at the Primary School, Middle School, High School and Bus Garage, as well as the replacement of the Main Playfield with natural grass and the replacement of the running track. The total cost of Proposition 1 is $31,281,651.
Proposition 2 provides the additional $2,018,270 in funding to replace the Main Playfield with synthetic turf instead of natural grass. Proposition 2 can only be approved if Proposition 1 passes.
At the Primary School, planned improvements include installing air conditioning in every classroom, renovating the kitchen and upgrading playground areas.
At the Middle School, the project includes creating a new Engineering Technology Lab equipped for wood and metal fabrication and computer-assisted design, as well as new 3D printing, CNC engravers and expanded storage. Renovations will also update Music, Art and World Language classrooms and overhaul the Main Office and Counseling/Psychology spaces. Additionally, the upgrades include renovating the locker rooms and adding a new multipurpose PE room accessible to both students and community programs.
At the High School, the plan includes a kitchen renovation, replacement of windows in the 100 and 200 wings and replacement of doors in the 200 wing.
At the Bus Garage, the project will replace metal siding, windows, exterior doors and bus lifts, as well as renovate the bathroom facilities.
A key priority of this project is supporting student well-being through improvements to Physical Education and Athletics. Central to this effort is the replacement of the Main Playfield and Running Track, which both have reached the end of its lifespans.
The field and track serve as athletics facilities and host milestone events such as High School Graduation, Middle School 8th-Grade Moving Up ceremonies and various community gatherings.
Two replacement options are being considered: natural grass or synthetic turf. Proposition 1 includes funding for a natural grass field, while Proposition 2 provides the additional funding needed to install synthetic turf. Proposition 2 can only pass if Proposition 1 passes.
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- What is the cost of the proposed Capital Project?
Answer: The total estimated cost for both Propositions 1 and 2 is $33,299,921.
Proposition 1 includes all infrastructure improvements and renovations at the Primary School, Middle School, High School and Bus Garage, as well as the replacement of the Running Track and Main Playfield with natural grass. The total cost of Proposition 1 is $31,281,651.
Proposition 2 provides an additional $2,018,270 in funding to replace the Main Playfield with synthetic turf instead of natural grass. Proposition 2 can only be approved if Proposition 1 passes.
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 addition, the district plans to use $300,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund. By combining state aid and reserve funds, we are able to reduce the cost of borrowing and deliver meaningful savings to taxpayers.
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- How much more will district residents pay in taxes if the project is approved?
Answer: The estimated tax impact for a home with a full value of $300,000 from 2028 to 2036 is 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)
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- Who will benefit from the Capital Project?
Answer: The proposed Capital Project would benefit students, staff and the community as a whole, with students seeing the greatest impact.
The plan addresses aging infrastructure, supports future-ready instruction and creates spaces that enhance student well-being.
Additionally, the proposed Capital Project provides benefits for the broader Ichabod Crane community.
The linked architectural design highlights the plans for the complete overhaul of the Middle School locker rooms, along with a series of other Physical Education improvements that began in 2018.
This includes upgrades to provide direct access to the exterior, a large lobby and vestibule, 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, 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, as well as a community hub regularly used by outside athletic clubs and local residents for exercise.
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- Why is now a good time for this project?
Answer: Approving the proposed improvement plan at this time will increase the likelihood of the work being completed as cost-effectively as possible while addressing the district’s growing facility needs.
Our school facilities are aging and this project is carefully designed to meet urgent needs, support the district’s long-term goals and minimize the tax impact on residents. The timing takes into account key factors such as retiring debt and available reserves – because when it comes to capital planning, timing matters.
Delaying the proposed project risks needing to make repairs and improvements on an emergency basis, which could strain future general operating budgets and increase project costs.
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- Can Ichabod Crane CSD complete capital construction work as part of the annual school budget?
Answer: No. The annual school budget only covers basic maintenance and routine repairs – and does not include funding for larger capital improvements. However, New York State offers Building Aid to cover a significant portion of eligible project costs for voter and NYS Education Department approved capital projects. For Ichabod Crane, the state will cover approximately 73.5% of eligible project expenses.
Capital Projects planned out well in advance provide the most value and are the most fiscally responsible approach to maintaining our facilities.
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- What happens if the Capital Project is voted down?
Answer: Without a voter-approved Capital Project, the district would not be eligible for New York State Building Aid and infrastructure issues would need to be addressed using the district’s general fund. When a Capital Project does happen, taxes will need to increase more because debt levels were not kept stable.
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- If the proposal is rejected, can the funds be used for other purposes, such as hiring staff or enhancing academic programs?
Answer: No – Capital project funds are specifically limited to facility improvements and cannot be redirected for other uses, such as hiring staff or academic programming. Proposed improvement plans must be approved by district voters and the New York State Education Department before the funds can be utilized. In contrast, staff salaries and academic programs are accounted for in the yearly general operating budget.
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- If the project is approved, when will the work be started and completed?
Answer: If approved by voters on December 16, 2025, here is an estimated timeline moving forward:
- January – September 2026: Design & Preparation of Construction Documents
- September 2026 – March 2027: SED Plan Review & Permitting Process
- April – November 2027: Construction Contract Bidding & Award Process
- July 2027 – December 2028: Construction
- January – March 2029: Move-in & Occupancy and Construction Closeout
For more information, please visit our Capital Project page on our website.
We are also hosting our last Community Forum on December 3, starting at 6 p.m. in the Middle School cafeteria.