Ballston Spa Central School District

1
Ballston Spa Central School District

• Task Force Report on The Future Use of The Malta
  Avenue School Building
• Report to the Board of Education
• January 2009

2
Purpose of Task Force

• To examine all aspects of the future uses of
• the Malta Avenue Building and report its
• findings to the Board of Education

3
Time Frame

• Establish the Task Force by August 1, 2008
• and report findings to the
• Board of Education by January 2009

4
Task Force Members

• Joy Houle
• Derek Mahlitz
• Karen Parlapiano
• Michael Wanerka
• Martha Iacolucci
• Elizabeth Ruger
• Lori K. Acee
• Barbara Shaver
• Shawn Raymond
• Christa Davis
• Kelly Merrick
• Nancy A. Doud
• Stuart Williams District Liaison
• James Collins- Task Force Facilitator

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Task Force Questions

• 1. What potential options are there for the Malta
  Avenue School Building use should it not remain
  as an elementary school?
• 2. What is the impact on the Ballston Spa School
  District community of changing the use of the
  Malta Avenue School Building?
• 3. What is the impact on transportation costs of
  the location of Malta Avenue Elementary school
  compared to placing the school elsewhere?

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Task Force Questions

• 4. What would be the impact of any
  recommendations on the location and cost of the
  District Administrative Offices?
• 5. What are the projections for elementary
  enrollment and what implications do these
  projections have for student populations in each
  building?
• 6. Are there any differences in academic
  achievement when comparing Malta Avenue students
  with like elementary students in and out of the
  District? What evidence points to the difference
  in academic achievement?

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Task Force Questions

• 7. What are the costs associated with allowing
  Malta Avenue to remain as a elementary school to
  provide programs equitable to all Ballston Spa
  elementary schools and to meet the Americans with
  Disabilities Act and State Education Department
  requirements?
• 8. What are the projected costs to build a
  comparable/updated elementary building?

8
Task Force Questions

• 9. What are the current positive aspects of
  utilizing Malta Avenue as a elementary school?
• 10. What are the current limitations of utilizing
  Malta Avenue as an elementary school?

9
Schedule of Meetings

• August 21, 2008 Welcome, Overview of Task Force
  and Tour of Malta Avenue
• September 4, 2008 Response to questions 1 and
  2
• October 2, 2008 Presentation by Brian Sirianni,
  Assistant Superintendent for Business and
  Support Services response to questions 3,
  4, 5
• October 14, 2008 Presentation by Sharon
  DAgostino (Malta Avenue Principal) and
  Michael Selkis (Wood Road Principal), tour of
  Wood Road Elementary response to question
  6

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Schedule of Meetings

• October 28, 2008 Presentation by Dan Woodside and
  Hank Weller from CS Arch response to
  questions 7 and 8
• November 13, 2008 Response to question 9
• November 25, 2008 Response to question 10
• January 8, 2009 Approval of final report
• January 28, 2009 Presentation of findings to the
  Board of Education

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Report Summary

• 1 Optional Use of Malta Avenue
• If owned by the school district and leased, this
  building could be used to house a variety of
  programs including Head Start, municipal
  offices/programs, alternative educational
  programs, community based programs, and others
• If sold by the school district, the building
  could be used for all the above or used for
  private businesses, residences, or as an open
  space if demolished

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Report Summary

• 2 Impact on community
• Loss of neighborhood school
• Could impact village economy
• Could affect taxes depending on usage
• Loss of students looking for a small school
  setting to private or parochial schools
• Feeling that Malta Avenue renovations and upkeep
  have been wasted

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Report Summary

• 3 Impact on transportation
• 70 current Malta Avenue walking students would
  need transportation
• New transportation routes would need to be
  established
• Cost of transportation would be impacted by the
  location of a new school or re-distribution of
  Malta Avenue students

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Report Summary

• 4 Impact on location and cost of District
  Administrative offices
• Four options exist. (1) stay in current location,
  (2) lease another facility, (3) buy/construct a
  new facility, (4) relocate into existing school
• Current offices are adequate but storage space is
  needed
• Leasing the same amount of space would cost
  300,000- 500,000 per year
• Building new offices would cost 2-2.5 million
  dollars with no State Aid

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Report Summary

• 5 Elementary enrollment projections
• Ten (10) year flat enrollment projection by the
  Capital District Regional Planning Commission
• 2008-09 enrollment increased in Kindergarten by
  60 students over projection
• Growth rate could be affected by unknown factors
  such as the Luther Forest Technology Park
  development and/or projected building in the
  district

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Report Summary

• 6 Achievement differences
• Academic achievement nearly identical across
  district elementary schools
• Malta Avenue test scores may be slightly higher
  due to a less diverse student population
• While there is no measurable evidence, the
  feeling exists that Malta Avenue affects
  education in the following ways
• Limited ability to accommodate some special
  education programs
• Number of ancillary/related educational programs
  and activities that can be provided
• Limited capacity for teacher planning
• Positive effect of a smaller learning environment

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Report Summary

• 7 Costs associated with Malta Avenue renovation
  and maintenance
• Option 1 (New additions and renovation)
• 20,000,000
• Option 2 (Reconfiguration, renovation, and moving
  District Offices)
• 19,990,000
• 21,990,000-22,990,000 with purchase of land for
  and construction of District Office
• Option 3 (Reconfiguration and renovation with
  loss of students)
• 14,100,00

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Report Summary

• Preceding options make Malta Avenue ADA compliant
• Preceding options do not include costs for
  displaced students during construction
• Option 3 does not include costs for permanent
  relocation of students

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Report Summary

• 8 New building costs
• Construction of a new elementary school would be
  22,000,000 or 24,000,000 with purchase of land
• New building would meet SED and ADA requirements

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Report Summary

• 9 Positive aspects of utilizing Malta Avenue
• Would continue to be a visible icon of the
  school district
• Would preserve one of the most historic parts of
  the district
• Would satisfy an expressed sentiment to keep
  school open
• Would negate the immediate need to purchase land
  for a new elementary school
• Would be less expensive to renovate than build a
  new school

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Report Summary

• 10 Current limitations of utilizing Malta
  Avenue
• Does not currently meet several ADA and SED
  requirements
• One of the least energy efficient buildings in
  the district
• Currently has safety and environmental issues
• Currently has mechanical, electrical, and
  plumbing deficiencies
• K-5 enrollment is at capacity

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Other

• The Task Force enjoyed the opportunity to
  participate in the decision making process
• The decision on Malta Avenue has both practical
  and emotional considerations
• Continued involvement of the community is
  important