Boiler Conversion Project on Schoharie School Ballot

SCHOHARIE - Schoharie school district residents will be voting on a $3.9 million building project proposition on May 19 that will include a fuel conversion for the boilers.

Superintendent David Blanchard outlined the project at the April 23 school board meeting.

The main focus of the project will be converting the boilers from fuel oil to propane. The cost will likely be covered by $500,000 from the capital fund reserve and the rest from state aid, Mr. Blanchard said, with no additional tax impact.

Under the boiler project, the current fuel oil tanks that are in the ground which are more than 30 years old and beyond their lifespan, will be removed, Mr. Blanchard said. There is a potential for leaks in the old tanks. In the project, the two tanks would be removed and the boilers would be converted to propane. A new propane tank would be installed.

Schools can no longer use #2 fuel oil and have a to use bio-diesel which gets contaminated easily. It took a "Herculean" effort by the staff to keep the furnaces running this winter.

The conversion will allow the system to run more efficiently and be more cost effective, Mr. Blanchard said.

In addition to the conversion, one elementary school boiler will be replaced. During an emergency replacement several years ago, one elementary school boiler was replaced but the other, which was the same age, was not replaced. The state did not approve the replacement, Mr. Blanchard noted. The remaining one will now be replaced.

The recent building condition survey of both schools indicated a need to update the boilers, the Superintendent told board members.

Some roof repair would also be part of the project.

The Superintendent noted that the project is a separate proposition on the ballot.

"We need people to come out to vote," he added.