FAQs

The public vote will be held at Grand Island High School on Wednesday, Dec 10, 2025 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. All voting details are outlined below.

Voter Identification is required to cast your ballot. Please note that no pre-registration is necessary to vote on this proposition.

The 2025 Capital Improvement Project is a $69.2 million proposition developed to address district-wide needs in four key areas, ensuring our facilities are:

• Warm & Dry: Addressing roofing and building envelope needs (Phase 1) to keep facilities properly insulated and protected from the elements.

• Cool: Upgrading and installing modern HVAC systems in our elementary schools (Phase 2) to improve classroom climate and energy efficiency.

• Safe: Enhancing building security with modern alert systems, renovating aging spaces like locker rooms, and upgrading critical network infrastructure (Phase 3).

• State Building Condition Surveys identified roof and HVAC systems are nearing end-of-life.

• NYS Aid and Capital Reserves make this the most cost-effective time to act.

• Waiting could increase costs by 6–8% annually due to inflation and material costs.

The project scope was carefully developed and prioritized by our District Facilities Committee and other school staff. Their recommendations are based on extensive analysis of State-required Building Conditions Surveys and direct feedback regarding community concerns, ensuring the most urgent needs are addressed first.

As Superintendent Dr. Brian Graham stated, the project aims to "address critical infrastructure needs, enhance energy efficiency, support evolving educational programming, and ensure our schools remain welcoming and accessible to all." This vote provides an opportunity to proactively manage the long-term health of our school buildings.

Achieving these goals requires a fiscally responsible plan, which is detailed in the next section.

The total project size is $69.2 million. The district plans to fund this primarily through New York State Building Aid, which significantly reduces the cost to local taxpayers.

NYS Building Aid funds are specifically earmarked for capital projects and cannot be used for general operating expenses.

To further reduce the local financial impact, the district will utilize its Capital Reserve fund. A total of $2,570,329 from this reserve is being used to lower the amount that needs to be funded by taxpayers.

The estimated annual impact on the tax rate is $0.34 per $1,000 of Assessed Value (Equalized). Please note that this value is an approximation.

The district is holding a public presentation to share detailed information and answer community questions.

For ongoing updates and additional project details, please visit the official district website: www.grandislandschools.org.