2026 Capital Project

Dear District Residents: Defining the educational program is the priority of any school board. Another major responsibility of a school board is to maintain its facilities in a cost—effective manner. A school district must plan for the future of its facilities by reviewing the conditions of existing facilities, assessing enrollment projections, programs, space and land and site needs.

In August of 2024, the district began a process to plan for the future of our facilities. As part of this process, a Facilities Planning Committee was formed to review ourshort and long—range building and grounds needs and make recommendations to the Board of Education. That review included an assessment of needs at all school buildings, as well as the former St. Ann’s property and buildings.

From this process, the Board looked at a multi—phase approach for facility improvement as the most responsible and financially prudent method of improving our school buildings. On April 6, 2026, the Board adopted a resolution to place its capital project plan before the voters. In this project the Board of Education set priorities designed to improve our students’ learning environments, a key step toward realizing the district’s strategic plan. It includes: the creation of UPK classrooms as mandated by NYS in 2028-29 at Walberta Park, upgrading the physical education facilities at OHMS, work at the high school’s main field (resurface track and replace synthetic field turf), construction of a new bus garage and bus parking on the former St. Ann’s property, and other building safety improvements and infrastructure needs across the district.

The referendum is divided into two propositions: Proposition 1 is the base project addressing the Facilities Committee's priorities which would have no tax rate increase, and Proposition 2 which is primarily HVAC work at Cherry Road Elementary School and Onondaga Hill Middle School which would bring with it a tax rate increase. Proposition 2 is contingent upon Proposition 1 passing.

Unfortunately, the timeline does not allow this capital project vote to occur at the May l9“ Budget Vote. All new bus garage projects now require pre—review approval by NYSED facilities planning. The bus garage project was submitted to NYSED on September 16, 2025 and the district received pre—review approval on February 23, 2026, affirming its eligibility for building aid. The SEQRA process required an additional thirty days, and the referendum date required another forty-five days after that.

The Westhill School District continually strives to provide our students with quality educational programs in a safe and healthy environment, while balancing Its fiscal responsibilities to the community. The Board of Education Is pleased that the majority of the funding support for this project is generated from state building aid. In addition, to minimize the tax rate impact, the local funding for the project coincides with the retirement of debt from the Cherry Road expansion. As you will read in this newsletter, the areas listed by building are critical to the infrastructure, program, and space needs of our buildings and grounds. We urge you to ask questions and carefully read the following pages prior to voting on Thursday, June 11. We thank you for your consideration of this project.
 

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Proposition I - $48,000,000 (No tax rate increase, due to expiring debt)
WESTHILL HIGH SCHOOL Corridor roof replacement Condensing boiler replacement Mechanical control upgrades Exterior Iighting upgrades	STADIUM Turf field replacement Track resurfacing Stadium lighting upgrade to energy efficient LED Scoreboard Lacrosse safety netting & shot clocks Batting cage (baseball/softball)
WALBERTA PARK ELEMENTARYSCHOOL New UPK Classrooms (NXS Mandate) Condensing boiler replacement Mechanical control upgrades	ONONDAGA HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL Update existing gymnasium including new floor Condensing boiler replacement Mechanical control upgrades Exterior lighting upgrades Partial roof and siding replacement
BUS GARAGE & BUS PARKING New bus garage and bus parking Training room (formerly St. Ann’s church) Demolish rectory and old bus garage to increase parking at Westhlll HS, improve traffic flow to and from Grand Ave. and create the future potential for another practice field.	MISCELLANEOUS Relocate District Offices to St. Ann’s School to make room for UPK classrooms at Walberta Park
Proposition ll - $25,850,000 (+$129/year for 15 years on a $250,000 home with a BASIC STAR exemption)
CHERRY ROAD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Energy efficient hot water boiler system (to replace existing steam boiler system) Air conditioning north and central wings Mechanical control upgrades	ONONDAGA HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL Air conditioning entire building