State Delays May Stall SCS Project

SCHOHARIE - A staffing problem at the State Education Department may be a bigger problem for Schoharie Central School.

The plans for phase 2 of the district's $25.9 million building project were submitted to SED for review one month ago. At that time, the expected waiting time for approval was six weeks to three months, but now, citing staffing issues, SED estimates the waiting time for approval at three to six months, Superintendent David Blanchard told school board members Thursday.

The delay could have a huge impact on Schoharie's project. It will mean a later start for construction and could mean higher costs.

"The SED approval process moved from 10 to 12 weeks to 22 to 24 weeks," Mr. Blanchard explained in more detail Friday afternoon. 

The delay may increase costs, but that is an unknown, he added. "This puts us going out to bid in early summer when the bid process is less competitive. That could make the project more expensive. However, inflation rates and interest rates are going in the right direction which may help us in the long run. It's too early to tell but we will be sure to monitor all facets of the project to keep costs down and get the work completed under budget as we did with the other projects the district has taken on recently."

Going to bid in February would definitely be more optimal than going out to bid in July or August, Mr. August said last week. "We'll stay on top of it."

Phase 2 of the district's $25.9 million building project will transform the elementary school. The project was approved by voters in May 2022. 

Once the approval is secured the district will go out to bid for the work. Meetings will then be held between the district, architects, and engineers to iron out the details of the plans, The plans will be shown to the board and public.

The work in the elementary school is major, relocating the cafeteria and library and building a new gym.

Last fall, Mr. Blanchard said he expected the elementary project to be done by the fall of 2026. That timeline now has to be reworked. The work on the elementary school was to start this summer until the state delayed approvals.

When completed, the construction would combine the current "1976" gym and elementary school cafeteria into a much larger gym with a stage at one end, move the cafeteria into the current elementary school library, and move the library to the current "1952" gym. 

The project does not require any new local taxpayer funds as state aid and the current building reserve will cover the costs.

State Delays May Stall SCS Project

SCHOHARIE - A staffing problem at the State Education Department may be a bigger problem for Schoharie Central School.

The plans for phase 2 of the district's $25.9 million building project were submitted to SED for review one month ago. At that time, the expected waiting time for approval was six weeks to three months, but now, citing staffing issues, SED estimates the waiting time for approval at three to six months, Superintendent David Blanchard told school board members Thursday.

The delay could have a huge impact on Schoharie's project. It will mean a later start for construction and could mean higher costs.

"The SED approval process moved from 10 to 12 weeks to 22 to 24 weeks," Mr. Blanchard explained in more detail Friday afternoon. 

The delay may increase costs, but that is an unknown, he added. "This puts us going out to bid in early summer when the bid process is less competitive. That could make the project more expensive. However, inflation rates and interest rates are going in the right direction which may help us in the long run. It's too early to tell but we will be sure to monitor all facets of the project to keep costs down and get the work completed under budget as we did with the other projects the district has taken on recently."

Going to bid in February would definitely be more optimal than going out to bid in July or August, Mr. August said last week. "We'll stay on top of it."

Phase 2 of the district's $25.9 million building project will transform the elementary school. The project was approved by voters in May 2022. 

Once the approval is secured the district will go out to bid for the work. Meetings will then be held between the district, architects, and engineers to iron out the details of the plans, The plans will be shown to the board and public.

The work in the elementary school is major, relocating the cafeteria and library and building a new gym.

Last fall, Mr. Blanchard said he expected the elementary project to be done by the fall of 2026. That timeline now has to be reworked. The work on the elementary school was to start this summer until the state delayed approvals.

When completed, the construction would combine the current "1976" gym and elementary school cafeteria into a much larger gym with a stage at one end, move the cafeteria into the current elementary school library, and move the library to the current "1952" gym. 

The project does not require any new local taxpayer funds as state aid and the current building reserve will cover the costs.