Almost 8M in Improvements Proposed for Gilboa-Conesville

GILBOA — Gilboa-Conesville School Board members and other officials are looking at a package of improvements estimated to cost $7.9 million that school district residents will eventually vote to approve or reject in a referendum.

At the Wednesday, Sept. 18 school board meeting, architect and project manager Josh Bezio and principal architect Gary Henry of Horseheads-based Hunt Engineers, Architects, Land Surveyors and Landscape Architects gave a presentation on the capital project planning package.

It includes an estimated $4.24 million in district-wide improvements including a revamped gymatorium; roof replacement; modifications to secured entrance and mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology enhancements; estimated $2.4 million in site improvements including retaining wall replacement; a stormwater retention system and pump station and septic tank replacement; estimated $1.4 million for bus garage improvements including fresh air ventilation, lighting, a stormwater retention system; and estimated $60,000 for demolition of a residence owned by the district and construction of a parking lot at the site to provide more off-street parking.

If the proposed timeline for the project remains as now outlined, there would be bid awards around March of 2026 and construction starting in May of that year and extending through November of 2027.

The full Hunt presentation can be viewed by visiting the Gilboa Conesville Central School District BoardDocs site and calling up the Sept. 18 meeting agenda and the appropriate agenda item. After the presentation, the school board approved a SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) resolution. A building project proposition that would set the parameters for the voter referendum including date, time and other items will be considered by the school board at a meeting in the next few months, Superintendent Bonnie Johnson said.

The full SEQR resolution can also be viewed on the BoardDocs site. It states that the project will have small impacts on land; surface and ground water; flooding; native plants and animals; nearby agricultural resources; historic or archeological resources; open space and recreation areas; transportation; aesthetics, noise, odor and light during the period of construction; and human health.

It will have no adverse impact on geological features; air quality; aesthetic resources; critical environmental areas, either onsite or nearby, the resolution added. It continued the project is "consistent with community plans and consistent with community character," and concluded it "will not result in any significant adverse impacts on the environment."

In other actions from the Sept. 18 meeting, the school board gave a second read, approved and put into effect a "rights of employees to express breast milk in the workplace" policy. The full document can be viewed on the district BoardDocs site.

Board members also approved the purchase of a $47,940 Sienna XSE to replace a 2020 Chevrolet Traverse that was totaled in a July 9 accident. The net cost to the district will be $28,060 after the insurance payment of $19,564 on the totaled vehicle.

Two students and one teacher were approved to attend the Oct. 26-27 FCCLA (Family Career and Community Leaders of America) conference at the Villa Roma Resort and Conference Center in Callicoon at a total cost of $513.

In personnel actions near the end of the meeting, the school board approved the appointments of Katherine Salke as a custodian, Rebecca Billingsley as arts and education representative and Catskill Area School Study Council representative, Melissa Graham as modified girls soccer coach, Julie Paes as junior varsity boys soccer coach, and Jamie Lindsley and Felina Marshall as substitute CROP (Creating Rural Opportunities Partnership) coordinators.