January 2004

Dear Community and Staff Members:

As all of you know, education in New York State and in Scotia-Glenville has been undergoing many changes. To help address these changes, our community residents approved a construction and renovation project in 1999. The work that took place in all of our buildings met many of our educational needs, but it did not address all of them. As we look to the future to provide our students with the best educational programs possible, we need to continue to look at the maintenance and upkeep of our school buildings, our athletic fields, and our computer technology. For this reason, the Board of Education and I would like to initiate a Facilities Advisory Committee to begin to review our current situation and to develop plans to meet the future needs of our students. Both the Board of Education and I are committed to actively seeking and utilizing community and staff input on the project. Listed below is a draft of a charge to such a committee.

CHARGE TO ADVISORY COMMITTEE PLANNING FOR FACILITY NEEDS

JANUARY 2004

Activities of the Advisory Committee should include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Examine current census reports and plans for residential development in order to determine classroom needs for future enrollments.
2. Study classroom, transportation, and operations and maintenance needs evolving from current and future requirements for our instructional programs.
3. Analyze as many planning options as possible, utilizing the expertise of local school staff and State Education Department personnel.
4. Review the State aid that may be generated by each planning option and the resultant burden on district taxpayers for each option.
5. Review the Five-Year Capital Facilities Plans for each building, as well as the recommendations from the Field Study Committee.
6. Recommend proposals to the Board of Education for meeting the long-range needs for facilities that is attractive and will be acceptable to the community by the end of July 2004.
7. Upon acceptance of a proposal by the Board and approval from the State Education Department, assist in the development of community acceptance.

Upon approval of a proposal by the community, the committee's responsibilities will be completed.

Operational guidelines for this committee include:

1. Up to 25 members representing all areas of the school/community may serve on the Advisory Committee.

2. The Board of Education members, Superintendent and District Office administrative staff will serve as resource persons to the committee.

3. All meetings should be held in school buildings and be open to all community citizens.

4. Meeting schedules and locations should be posted and announced in local newspapers.

5. The committee should elect its own chairperson(s) officers and develop its own organizational guidelines.

On Thursday, February 26, I would like to hold an organizational meeting of any interested community residents to begin this process. The meeting will be held in the Middle School Cafeteria beginning at 7:00 PM. If you are interested in attending, would you please call my office at 382-1215. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at the same telephone number.

I look forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Michael J. Marcelle

Superintendent of Schools

SUGGESTED CAPITAL PROJECT TIMELINE

December 2003 Announcement of Facilities Advisory Committee

January 2004 Creation of Facilities Advisory Committee (See Attached)

February - June 2004 Facilities Advisory Committee reviews all information

July 2004 Facilities Advisory Committee presents its recommendations to the Board of Education

August 2004 Board of Education Resolution for Public Referendum (if so determined)

August – November 2004 Public Meetings to present building project

November/December 2004 Public Referendum