SEPT. 22, 2022 — Returning students and staff at Midlakes schools undoubtedly noticed a few changes to campus as well as a few large construction vehicles as crews continued work on the Capital Improvement Project approved by voters in 2019.

The summer months allowed workers to complete, or bring to near competition, several portions of the $15.6 million project in time for the start of school. Further updates and photos follow.

Crews were able to substantially improve traffic flow at the Midlakes Elementary School by widening the parent drop-off loop, adding, and repairing sidewalks, installing new curbing, and building a new staff-only parking lot accessible by Route 96 with nearly 80 additional spaces.

Parking areas at the Elementary School were also repaired, resealed, and restriped. Drainage was improved and repaired in several areas. Handicapped parking was moved closer to the school and a new blue "stay back" line was added to help keep students away from school buses during arrival and dismissal.

The new patterns and wider sidewalks help ensure that families should never find a reason to cross school roadways.

Several repairs were made to the Transportation Facility, where portions of the building had deteriorated or was damaged over the years. Gutters were repaired to prevent icing and related safety hazards. Portions of the parking lot and driveways were repaired to improve traffic flow, and drainage of the facility was also improved. New gas and water lines were installed at the maintenance building.

Crews also installed a new bus lift, which was planned separately from the capital project.

Grading and resurfacing work saw crews digging up the main stadium field to improve drainage and the playing surface. The playing surface will be resodded, graded with natural grass, and given time to rest to allow the grass to take hold. Work is expected to be completed in October with athletic teams scheduled to get on the field in the spring of 2024.

Crews built a new salt barn, just south of the Transportation Facility, capable of holding 60 tons of salt. The barn will improve the efficiency of clearing roads and sidewalks during a snow emergency.

Also, a new 10,000-gallon fueling station was built to allow the District to help control fuel costs by competitively bidding for fuel. The station will hold up to 7,000 gallons of diesel fuel and 3,000 gallons of gasoline for school buses, plows, and other equipment.

A new domestic hot water system is up and running at the Middle School. New bleachers were installed in the Middle School gymnasium and new appliances were installed in the Family and Consumer Science room in the Middle/High School. Fencing was added to new bio-filtered drainage areas at the Elementary School.

A separate slate of work paid for through the state’s Smart School Bond Act brought several security enhancements and infrastructure improvements to Midlakes schools separate from the capital project approved.

Totaling approximately $1.7 million, work included upgraded cabling and infrastructure to support a new communication system, call buttons, additional video and video storage, monitoring of all exterior doors, re-keyed entrances and fob readers, new digital clocks, an upgraded alert system, and other enhancements to increase security.

FEB. 28, 2022 — With the hope that winter will soon be behind us, the District looks forward to breaking ground as early as March on the $15.6 million capital improvement project overwhelmingly approved by the voters in December 2019.

Since receiving support from the community, we have worked with a team of architects, engineers, and construction managers to finish final project designs and received approval from the New York State Education Department. We have planned construction to minimize disruptions and prioritize the health and safety of all students and staff.

Families may have noticed that some building improvements have already commenced. Work on our separate Smart Schools Bond Act project began at the Elementary School in December and will soon move to the Middle/High School.

The $1.7 million Smart Schools project will be used to upgrade the technology, communication, and security infrastructure of both schools. This work, paid entirely by the state through bonds allocated to Midlakes, occurs after-school and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the 2022- 2023 academic year.

Meanwhile, the capital improvement project could begin as early as March, with work starting first on a new staff parking lot behind the Elementary School along with preparations for a new fueling station near the bus garage. Some indoor work will begin in the Middle/High School in May, as we begin the early stages of relocating and redesigning the Middle School cafeteria and music rooms.

We are working with our construction team and teachers to identify alternate instructional spaces to accommodate the renovations and upgrades for our current music rooms.

Summer construction will take place at both buildings as well as the main Elementary School parking lot, the Bus Garage, and the football field. Each of these areas will either receive needed repairs or other site improvements. While our goal is to complete as much work as possible during the summer to minimize any disruptions to the school year, some programs and areas will be moved temporarily to allow work to be completed.

Summer (2022) programs for all students will be consolidated in the southeast wing of the Middle/High School, where no construction work is planned this summer. The District will share more specific information with families as we get closer to scheduling these programs.

In the upcoming 2022-2023 school year, we expect the relocation and redesign work of the secondary school music rooms and Middle School cafe to occur. We are excited to embark on these important upgrades so we can continue to provide outstanding programs for our students and care for the community’s investment in a well-maintained campus.

While construction projects are naturally disruptive, the District is committed to minimizing the impact on our students, staff, community, and programs. Be sure to visit the District’s website, social media, and other communication channels to find more information on these projects as it becomes available.

Thank you, in advance, for your patience during this time and your continued support of our students through the continuous improvement of our facilities and programs. 

Matt Sickles, Superintendent

PROJECT TIMELINE
A look at some key times of the capital improvement project.*

NEW ELEMENTARY PARKING LOT, FUELING STATION
March 2022 (work begins)

MAIN ELEMENTARY PARKING LOT
June 2022 - September 2022

SECONDARY MUSIC AREAS
May 2022 - April 2023

MIDDLE SCHOOL CAFE
May 2022 - March 2023

FOOTBALL FIELD CLOSED
July 2022 - Spring 2024

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED
October 2023

*All dates are subject to change.

The Phelps-Clifton Springs Board of Education would like to thank the Midlakes community for your overwhelming support of the proposed $15.6 million capital project on December 11.

The voters’ approval of the capital project, by a vote of 307-72, will help ensure that our students and teachers learn and work in a safe environment that supports their needs and promotes success for years to come.

As a result of your support, the District will be able to take care of our facilities, improve operations, and maximize student opportunities.

The Board was humbled by the participation of the many staff, parents, and community members who attended public meetings and participated in focus groups leading up to the vote. The input of these volunteers helped us plan a project that meets our most critical needs with no additional tax impact. We understand and appreciate that being fiscally responsible is important to our taxpayers.

The District is excited to begin working with Edge Architecture to coordinate the detailed design work on the project. The final design will be reviewed by the New York State Department of Education before the work is sent out to bid.

Construction is expected to begin during the spring or summer of 2022. We will provide updates as they become available.

The overwhelming support for this capital project is just one more reason we are so proud to serve a community that is dedicated to its children and its school.

Like you, we love being members of this community and we will continue to work hard to ensure that our students have access to the facilities, education, and opportunities they deserve.

On behalf of all of our students, staff, administrators, and the Board of Education thank you once again for your overwhelming show of support.

Laura Cirone is a member of the Phelps-Clifton Springs Board of Education

Voters in the overwhelmingly approved a $15.6 million capital project to address a variety of facilities needs and improve the overall learning experience for students.

Voters approved the proposal 307 to 72.

"We appreciate everyone who took time out of their busy holiday schedules to vote today," said Matt Sickles, superintendent of schools. "We are grateful to live in and serve a community that not only values and supports its students but also the educational program our entire staff works so hard to deliver each and every day."

The proposal calls for no additional increase in property taxes. State building aid will pay for about 78 percent of the project, with the remaining portion financed with funds coming from a capital reserve fund.

The capital project addresses the most urgent repairs and improvements to the District’s facilities, including the following items:

• Replace boilers and make other mechanical improvements to schools.
• Modernizing a high school woodshop class and culinary arts room.
• Renovate and reconfigure secondary school music areas and move the middle school cafeteria closer to the kitchen and serving areas.
• Make repairs to the bus garage and maintenance barn.
• Add an on-campus fueling station and a covered salt storage facility.
• Add more parking at the Elementary School and redesign the bus loop and parent drop-off areas.
• Repair the “crown” and fix drainage issues on the football/lacrosse field.
• Upgrade auditorium lighting.
• Renovate outdated restroom areas, and more (visit Midlakes.org/FacilitiesPlanning for a complete list).

Rochester-based Edge Architecture will begin detailed design work on the project, which will be reviewed by the New York State Department of Education and sent out to bid. Construction is expected to begin during the 2022-2023 school year.

(Image is a conceptual rendering and not a final design.)

Voters of the Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District will have the opportunity to decide on a $15.6 million capital project that addresses a variety of facility needs on the campus of Midlakes schools. 

Community members, school officials, the Board of Education and Rochester-based Edge Architecture developed the proposal over the last several months with input from district staff, boosters, and other community stakeholders. The Board of Education, which has approved the project, has held several community input meetings on the proposal. 

"We believe this project addresses our most critical needs to ensure the integrity and longevity of our facilities, improves programs and opportunities for students, and maintains our fiscal responsibility to our community," said Matt Sickles, district superintendent.

The proposal calls for no additional increase in property taxes. State building aid will pay for about 78 percent of the project, with the remaining portion financed with funds coming from a capital reserve fund.

The capital project addresses the most urgent repairs and improvements to the District’s facilities, including the following items:

• Replace boilers and make other mechanical improvements to schools.
• Add more parking at the Elementary School and redesign the bus loop and parent drop-off areas.
• Repair the “crown” and fix drainage issues on the football/lacrosse field.
• Upgrade auditorium lighting.
• Renovate outdated restroom areas.
• Modernizing a high school woodshop class and culinary arts room.
• Renovate and reconfigure secondary school music areas and move the middle school cafeteria closer to the kitchen and serving areas.
• Make repairs to the bus garage and maintenance barn.
• Add an on-campus fueling station and a covered salt storage facility.
• Other work as detailed on Midlakes.org.

The capital project vote will be from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 in the Midlakes Middle School Gymnasium, 1554 State Route 488, Clifton Springs. To be eligible to vote, residents must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years of age or older and have been a district resident for at least 30 days prior to the vote.

For more information on the capital project, including photos and a video, visit the District’s website at Midlakes.org/FacilitiesPlanning or call (315) 548-6420.

(Image is a conceptual rendering and not a final design.)

On December 10, voters in the Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District will decide on a $15.6 million capital project to address a variety of needs on the Midlakes schools campus to enhance the educational experience for students while contributing to the safety, accessibility, and longevity of the District’s facilities.

The proposal calls for no additional increase in taxes to pay for the work. State building aid would pay for about 78 percent of the project with the remaining portion financed with funds already saved in a capital reserve fund.

Voters are encouraged to review the information provided in the October edition of the Midlakes Journal and to attend an information session during the Board of Education meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18 or go to Midlakes.org for more. Residents with specific questions or comments may contact the District Office at (315) 548-6420

VOTE: Noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, 7th/8th grade gym, 1550 State Route 488, Clifton Springs.

ELIGIBILITY: Residents may vote who are at least 18, a resident for at least 30 days, and a U.S. Citizen.

ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter. Completed applications received after 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 will require the voter to appear at the District Clerk’s office to receive an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 4 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2019.

For more information, call (315) 548-6420.

(Image is a conceptual rendering and not a final design.)

The work identified in the capital project is necessary to address building deficiencies, code and accessibility issues, and other items needed to maintain the proper delivery of the educational program. The scope of work includes the following key upgrades:

SECONDARY SCHOOL

• Renovate Culinary Arts room

• Install handicap accessible ramp (south parking lot)

• Add handicap parking (east lot)

• Fix sidewalks (west of middle school bus loop)

• Re-key entire building

• Add exhaust fans to chemistry rooms

• Add dust collection system and renovate woodshop

• Replace boilers

• Replace cooling towers

• Recoat interior pool surface

• Renovate and repair high school restrooms

• Convert 7th/8th-grade cafeteria into a music room

• Create better sightlines in performing arts hallway

• Move 7th/8th cafeteria near the kitchen

• Replace the bleachers in 7th/8th gym

• Replace auditorium theatre lighting

• HVAC, electrical and plumbing upgrades

• Replace various air handling units

• Other miscellaneous work

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Redesign student drop-off area

• Add a staff parking lot

• Add visitor parking

• Redesign bus loop

• Add handicap parking

• Re-key entire facility

• Renovate restrooms

• Add turnaround area for deliveries

• Replace boilers

• Repair handicap-accessible ramps

• Redesign entrances to the bus loop and the main parking lot

• Other miscellaneous work

TRANSPORTATION FACILITY

• Add fueling station

• Add covered salt storage area

• Widen driveway

• Replace overhead and main doors

• Make repairs to exterior metal walls

• Repair sidewalks

• Repair maintenance barn walls

• HVAC, electrical and plumbing upgrades

• Replace waste oil separator

• Other miscellaneous work

ATHLETIC FIELDS

• Fix the crown of the football/lacrosse field

• Replace goal posts

• Repair fences

• Update scoreboard

• Other miscellaneous work

Included are responses to some commonly asked questions on the Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District’s capital project.

Why is the project needed?
Several areas on the Midlakes schools campus need to be repaired or replaced while others need to be updated to accommodate the evolving needs of popular programs. The areas being addressed in the capital project were identified through a Building Condition Survey, meetings, and site tours by a Facilities Committee comprised of community members and school representatives, and Edge Architecture.

What is a Building Condition Survey?
The Building Condition Survey is a five-year plan required by the state to collect information on District infrastructure and to prioritize facility needs. The survey assists with itemizing the needs of each building and prioritizing the most essential work.

What would the cost be to local taxpayers?
The Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District anticipates that no additional taxes would need to be levied to support the capital project. State building aid will cover approximately 78 percent of the project and the remaining portion would be funded through a district capital reserve fund.

What is the Smart Schools Investment Plan?
The Smart Schools Bond Act, approved by voters statewide in 2014, sets aside state funding for school districts to complete a wide range of technology and security improvements. The District is planning to pay for $1,739,943 in upgrades through this separate funding stream.

What upgrades will be made with funding through the Smart Schools Bond Act?
The District plans to upgrade its Public Address system, install new door monitoring at all school buildings and new electronic door functions in large common areas and hallways. Additional improvements to spaces devoted to IT equipment and infrastructure will be made to meet new standards.

What is the timeline for the project?
Detailed design work on the project will begin upon approval with construction anticipated to begin in the first half of 2022.

NOTICE OF A SPECIAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING OF VOTERS OF THE PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE PHELPS-CLIFTON SPRINGS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT HEREBY GIVES NOTICE that pursuant to a Resolution adopted by the Board of Education of the District on the October 21, 2019, a special meeting of the qualified voters of said District will be held in the Elementary School Gymnasium located at 1490 Route 488, Clifton Springs, New York on December 10, 2019 from 12:00 o’clock noon to 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, for the purpose of voting on the following proposition by voting machine or paper ballot: 

PROPOSITION

Shall the Board of Education be authorized to undertake a project consisting of renovations, reconstruction, alterations and improvements to the District’s Middle/High School, Elementary School, Bus Garage and Maintenance Building, including all related site, pick-up and drop-off area and parking improvements, original furnishings, fixtures and equipment required for such purposes, architectural fees, and all other necessary costs incidental to such work, at a total estimated cost not to exceed $15,600,000 and obtain the necessary funds by using any available state aid, up to $3,500,000 from the Capital Reserve approved by the District’s voters on May 17, 2016 and the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of the School District in an amount not to exceed $12,100,000 to be collected in annual installments in the years and in the amounts as the Board of Education shall determine and in anticipation of such tax bonds and notes of the District are hereby authorized to be issued at one time, or from time to time, in the principal amount not to exceed $12,100,000 and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said obligations when due. 

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that qualified voters of the District may obtain applications for an absentee ballot from the office of the District Clerk.  Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than 4:00 p.m. on December 9, 2019 and must be received no later than 4:00 p.m. on December 3, 2019 if the absentee ballot is to be mailed to the voter. Completed applications received after 4:00 p.m. on December 3, 2019 will require the voter to personally appear at the office of the District Clerk to receive an absentee ballot. A listing of all persons to whom an absentee ballot is issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter in the office of the District Clerk between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. through December 9, 2019, except on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays.  Any qualified voter may upon examination of such list, file written challenge of qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for the challenge.  Such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or designee to the Inspectors of Election on election day.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the proposition set forth on the paper ballots or voting machine label shall appear as follows: 

PROPOSITION

Shall the Board of Education be authorized to undertake a project consisting of renovations, reconstruction, alterations and improvements to the District’s Middle/High School, Elementary School, Bus Garage and Maintenance Building, including all related site, pick-up and drop-off area and parking improvements, original furnishings, fixtures and equipment required for such purposes, architectural fees, and all other necessary costs incidental to such work, at a total estimated cost not to exceed $15,600,000 and obtain the necessary funds by using any available state aid, up to $3,500,000 from the Capital Reserve approved by the District’s voters on May 17, 2016 and the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of the School District in an amount not to exceed $12,100,000 to be collected in annual installments in the years and in the amounts as the Board of Education shall determine and in anticipation of such tax bonds and notes of the District are hereby authorized to be issued at one time, or from time to time, in the principal amount not to exceed $12,100,000 and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said obligations when due.

DATED: October 21, 2019

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Sarah Butler, District Clerk

In the coming weeks, the Board of Education will present a capital improvement plan to the community for its input and approval. This investment in our campus is the first step in what we hope will be a multi-year, multi-project strategic plan.

Planning for this project began just about a year ago with the hiring of the District’s new architectural firm, Edge Architecture. Edge immediately went to work on a Building Condition Survey to guide the Board and district administrators during our initial decision-making process.

The survey took a thorough look at our entire campus to identify and prioritize areas needing attention. We then began identifying various buckets – or broad categories of work – we wanted to address in this project through discussions with the Board’s Facilities Committee and district administrators.

The ideas behind these categories came from years of conversations with parents, teachers, and community stakeholders and include mechanical upgrades to HVAC and boiler systems, student drop-off and visitor parking enhancements at the Elementary School, High School music room upgrades, moving the Middle School cafeteria closer to the kitchen, and adding a fueling station for our transportation department.

Once we agreed on our buckets, we shared the plan for wider input. The Board invited several community members to serve on an advisory committee. The committee was comprised of parents, teachers, administrators, volunteers, coaches, and retirees. Walk-through meetings were held in late spring and early summer to introduce our ideas and gather feedback.

A public meeting was held in the auditorium to gather more feedback, answer questions, and introduce our plan to a broader audience. The idea behind all of these meetings was to ensure that we were on the right path. After many months of planning, we are now heading towards a vote. We have also scheduled meetings and are accepting further feedback to answer your questions on the project.

I’m certain one of your first questions on the proposal relates to its financial impact. We are pleased to share with our community how our $15.6 million capital project will have no additional impact on local taxes.

We are also very proud of the collaborative process that brought us to this point. But our work is not over. We look forward to answering your questions and hope you share in the excitement that we have in this project.

Also, on behalf of the Board of Education and the District, we’d like to thank committee members, community stakeholders, and our administrators for their work on this capital project and continued support of our students.

Thank you for trusting us to ensure that our District is focused on what’s best for everyone.

RYAN DAVIS is president of the Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District Board of Education.

The Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District recently held a planning meeting to solicit feedback from district resident on a potential capital project that would have with little or no impact to local taxpayers.

Superintendent Matthew Sickles, Business Administrator Tracy Marshall and representatives from Edge Architecture and Marathon Engineering led a discussion with community members to reveal the findings of a state-mandated Building Condition Survey.

State building aid, along with funding through the state’s Smart Schools Bond Act and replacing existing debt payments would pay for the project, district leaders said. 

The project targets approximately $15 million in upgrades throughout the District. Any project presented to voters will need approval by the Board of Education approval.

“We are in the early stages of planning,” Sickles told the audience during the June 17 meeting. “We are gathering feedback from the community and beginning the process of putting a capital project together for voters.”

Some areas identified by the Building Condition Survey needing attention, include:

• Replacement of boilers in all buildings and other mechanical improvements.
• Additional K-6 parking and redesign of the bus loop and parent drop-off loop.
• Repair of the “crown” and drainage problems on the football/lacrosse field.
• Upgrades to auditorium lighting.
• Renovation of outdated bathrooms.
• Renovation of a high school technology classroom and culinary arts (FACS) classroom.
• Renovation/reconfiguration of our 7-12 music classrooms and improved proximity of the middle school cafeteria to the kitchen and serving lines.
• Replacing the functionality of the current middle school cafeteria as a space for special events.
• Upgrades to the bus garage and the addition of an on-campus fueling station for our buses and equipment.

Those with questions and interested in provided feedback may call District Office at (315) 548-6420. Further updates will be posted to Midlakes.org.