Berlin School District To Vote On $19,750,000 Renovation Project

by Phillip M. Zema
At first, the Berlin School Board Meeting lacked controversy, but by the time the Board discussed renovation proposals for the Berlin elementary and high schools, tensions were rising.
At the end of the meeting the Board passed a measure that will allow District residents the opportunity to vote on a $19.75 million renovation/construction project. The project is intended to renovate the Berlin schools (e.g. new windows, masonry repair, ventilation replacement and electrical system upgrades), satisfy the Americans with Disabilities Act code requirements and add six additional classrooms to the elementary school.
Because of the money at stake, members of both the Board and community were skeptical of the project’s merits. Board Member Tom Morelli thought we had good reason to believe the investment could financially damage the District. In the end, however, only Morelli and Beverly Stewart voted against the referendum. The other members believed it was in Berlin’s best interest to go ahead with the project, and, accordingly, the measure was passed 5-2.
While the Board made it clear that the District’s voters will, on December 8, have the final say, Morelli was determined to discuss several financial bugaboos. First, the project will inevitably raise school taxes. Morelli emphatically stated that this hike could be as high as 30 percent, but this estimate may not be accurate. Yet, given interest rates, the poor economy and the possibility of Berlin having to contribute more to the State’s teacher retirement fund, the tax increase could be dramatically high. Those in favor of the renovation/construction referendum, however, thought the only reasonable alternative was to put forth the money. Their primary justification was that the schools, in order to function properly and avoid future construction problems, need immediate improvement.
Within the Board and throughout the community, there are mixed opinions about what the School District should do. But regardless of what the Board decided, the decision to approve the project is up to Berlin’s voters. On December 8, the fate of the $19.75 million dollar project will be in the voter’s hands. The Board is adamant that, well before the vote, the District’s residents receive as much information as possible. To ensure the community makes an educated vote, the Board and administration intend to hold two public meetings well before the voting date. The date of these meetings, however, has yet to be determined.
Senior Trip Approved
Berlin’s twelfth-graders should be happy to hear that the Board passed their Senior Trip proposal. Several officers from the Berlin senior class asked the Board to approve a spring trip to Washington D.C. and Virginia Beach. The class seemed prepared to give as many seniors as possible the opportunity to attend, as they already have a series of fund-raisers in place. The Board unanimously approved the trip.
Disaster Drill
On November 14, the Berlin bus garage will hold its first bus drill since May 1993. Area fire departments will be in attendance as the school intends to simulate a worst case scenario bus accident. Berlin students are invited to serve as “victims,” and those involved with the “rescue” will be critiqued. At 9 am by the fields outside Cowee’s, the action starts.
Swine Flu
Those worried about the spread of H1N1 into Berlin’s schools should be disconcerted. Superintendent Charlotte Gregory reported that H1N1 may have spread to Berlin’s schools. While no cases have been officially confirmed, in so far as many Berlin students and employees are out sick with flu-like symptoms, the writing is on the wall. The administration and Board and most likely Berlin’s employees, parents and students request that if your child is sick, keep him or her home and follow necessary health procedures.
Budget Cut Impact
In light of the Governor’s proposed 686 million budget cut to New York State’s schools, it was necessary that the District’s auditor discuss Berlin’s financial future. The cuts will reduce aide by roughly 3 percent, which may add up to over $300,000. Fortunately, the auditor informed the Board that the District is well-prepared. So far Berlin has the reserve funds needed to weather the storm. These funds, if required, can be used to assuage potential economic impacts on employee benefits and school resources.