Moving the Cioni administration building to Meagher
Elementary School fulfills several goals of the Board of
Education, said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Paul Padalino. Not only can the project be accomplished at no additional cost to local taxpayers and repurpose an empty school building, returning the Crown Street building to the tax rolls would provide the District with additional revenue to balance the school district budget.
"I believe the sale of the Cioni building is a significant
proposal worthy of consideration. It has the potential to pave the way for another transformative project in Uptown Kingston and return this excellent property to the tax rolls. Kingston Mayor Steve Noble
Meagher Plan: Expenses Vs. Savings
In an effort to save the Kingston City School District
taxpayers significant funds over the next decade, and decrease the tax burden on local homeowners and businesses, the KCSD is proposing a move of administration to Meagher. Not only does moving the administrative office to the Meagher Building have a projected cost-savings for the taxpayers of Kingston, it could also help to continue the revitalization of the Midtown and Uptown areas. The Crown Street property is valuable to the renaissance of uptown Kingston and has a high market value. There have been offers exceeding $1 million on the property. The Meagher building is currently vacant, and putting offices and a pre- kindergarten center here could increase the economic vitality of this Midtown neighborhood. Further, once Crown Street is privately owned, the building will become a part of the taxable properties of the KCSD and the City of Kingston. If administration remains on Crown Street, the district would have to continue to burden the taxpayers of Kingston by owning two properties AND pay for major renovations to mechanical and structural systems at Crown Street, as well as significant maintenance issues. The following chart compares the two options:
Meagher Crown Street
Moving Vs. Staying $4,300,000 $3,000,000- renovations repairs Sale of Crown Street $1,000,000 $0 Totals $3,300,000 $3,000,000
The proposed capital project to reimagine the former
Meagher Elementary School, located at 21 Wynkoop Place, also would transform a vacant midtown building into a public education prekindergarten for four-year-old students.
This proposal will be on the ballot during the May 16, 2017 Board of Education and School Budget election.
According to a recent paper coauthored by Nobel laureate
James Heckman, The Life-Cycle Benefits of an Influential Early Childhood Program, investing in early childhood education results in richer, fuller, healthier lives for the entire family. Dr. Heckman asserts that early childhood education helps students to develop key social and emotional skills (like self-control) at a critical time of their development.
Not only does early childhood education promote
the engagement of children, their cognitive skills, non cognitive skills, and IQs are also boosted. For many students who receive early childhood education, the positive impact lasts for years, resulting in increased social engagement, and an increased willingness to participate in society.
ABOUT THE PROPOSAL
District Prekindergarten Center The early learning center would be designed to serve four year-old students in the Kingston City School District geographic area. Students would be invited to enroll, based on need. The buildings physical space dedicated to Prekindergarten would include four classrooms, a playroom, and a story center, with each room specifically modified to meet the unique needs of our youngest learners.
KCSD Administrative Offices
The KCSD would vacate and sell its current office location in uptown Kingston (61 Crown Street) and move operations to the Meagher site. The offices would include tax, payroll, human resources, and student registration, as well as curriculum offices, special education, transportation, and technology.
ABOUT THE COST
The estimated total cost for this renovation is $4.23 million, which would be offset by New York State building aid, the proceeds from the sale of the Cioni building, and monies set aside in the District Capital Reserve fund. The prekindergarten programs annual recurring cost would be dependent on enrollment and would be incorporated into the districts regular operating budget. Project costs would include repaving and repairing the parking lot, installing an elevator (mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act), as well as major renovations of 3,540 square feet and minor renovations of 11,135 square feet. The renovation would be funded through monies set aside by the Capital Reserve, which are savings achieved by the school district over the course of several years. The Building Capital Reserve is currently $8,002,705. If this proposal is approved by voters and proceeds as planned, the Capital Reserve will fund the entire renovation initially. The KCSD anticipates that the reserve will be replenished by proceeds from the sale of the Cioni building, as well as the State Aid inflows. WHY CREATE A PREKINDERGARTEN CENTER?
Prekindergarten can create lasting benefits for the student
and the entire community. A large and growing body of research shows that prekindergarten education yields both short-and long-term benefits, including potential cost savings to communities. The short-term benefits include greater academic achievement, greater success in early grades, and a greater chance of graduating from high school. The HighScope Perry PreSchool Study showed evidence that preschool education yielded benefits for students decades in the future. The study followed children born in poverty and at high risk of failing in school. From 19621967 the students were randomly divided into a program group that received a high-quality preschool program and a comparison group who received no preschool program. Data were gathered from the subjects school, social services, and arrest records.The study found that adults at age 40 who had the preschool program had higher earnings, were more likely to hold a job, had committed fewer crimes, and were more likely to have graduated from high school than adults who did not have preschool.