Info sessions, tours for revised Albany High School rebuild plan
A site plan for revised project from the district's slide deck posted online.
The vote on the reformulated plan for the much-discussed expansion/rebuilding of Albany High School is coming up February 9, and the school district has a series of public informational meetings and tours lined up between now and then.
One of those sessions -- a community forum -- is scheduled for tonight (Thursday, January 14) in the Albany High School cafeteria at 7 pm. A slide deck for the presentation is already posted online. The deck includes building plans and details about topics such as cost per square foot.
The overall price tag of the new plan is $179.9 million -- about $16 million less than the plan that narrowly got voted down in November. (A new auditorium and an expanded gym were among the items cut to shrink the cost.) Of the new price tag, the district would be paying almost $63 million (compared to $72 million in the former plan), with the state picking up the rest. For a home valued at $200k, the district projects taxes would go up $28/year from their current level, compared to $60 in the former plan. (That figure doesn't take into account debt that's scheduled to come off the district's books, which was a point of controversy leading up to the last vote.)
The rebuild plan is still scheduled for a 7-year timeline in order to maximize state aid. Roof replacement would start this summer, with main construction starting in 2018. The whole project would be completed by 2024.
The district says the current Albany High School is in significant need of repair and isn't large enough to accommodate projected enrollment increases. It says the cost of doing the necessary repairs and providing the extra space will be $100 million if the proposed rebuild doesn't happen.
Earlier on AOA:
+ Thinking about the plan for the next version of Albany High School
+ Capital Region high school graduation rates 2015
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Comments
Thanks for posting. I was really conflicted at the last vote and ultimately didn't feel that Albany Schools did a good job communicating why the tremendous scale of the project was required. I couldn't make an informed decision, so I voted no. I am glad to see the variety of events at different times. I will definitely go, ask questions, and make a more informed decision for the next vote.
... said Laura on Jan 14, 2016 at 2:31 PM | link
There is no telling how much our property taxes could go up when you take into consideration that there is a 12.5 million hole in the city budget that Cuomo isn't going to fill. Sheehan has bandied about the 20% figure for a property tax increase. So, $60/month for the school and what - another $100- $200 to fill the budget gap? I will vote no unless the mayor informs us of her plans to fill the budget gap by the vote on 2/9. The school and the budget gap could force our taxes up $100-250/month. Who knows?
... said Joe Albany on Jan 14, 2016 at 2:59 PM | link
Joe Albany, as an Albany city taxpayer, I am also worried about the hole in the city's budget, and hope that state aid will be included in the final budget. However, you are overestimating the tax impact of the new high school project. AOA said the new proposal will increase current taxes by $28/year for a home valued at $200,000, not $60/month. There are helpful links in the above post - you might also check out additional information on the district's website here: http://www.albanyschools.org/district/SecondaryProposal/HSrestructuringhome.htm
... said karen on Jan 14, 2016 at 10:02 PM | link
No one thinks these kids deserve new schools? Because they do.
... said Amelia on Jan 15, 2016 at 8:55 AM | link
When i was in school , and didn't get good grades we never thought to blame the building, or the teachers!
The construction crew who first built the 1974 building should have been held accountable, and made building up to snuff.
For $200 M they could buy the Playboy mansion, and bring it here!
... said mg on Jan 16, 2016 at 2:28 PM | link
There were a lot of poorly designed buildings in the 60's and 70's and unfortunately this high school was one of those. Classrooms without windows, cramped rooms, metal walls, etc are not conducive to learning. I am sorry they had meetings that once again were not well publicized, i missed them. But the weblink above is helpful.
... said Julie A on Jan 23, 2016 at 7:55 PM | link