In addition to the ongoing capital project, a capital outlay project at the Upper Elementary School is scheduled to start at the beginning of Holiday Recess.
The state allows school districts to spend up to $100,000 each fiscal year on a capital outlay project. Upon completion, a district is reimbursed by the state based on its state aid ratio. Westmoreland’s state aid ratio for capital outlay projects is 90 percent, meaning the district will receive up to $90,000 from the state for every $100,000 spent on its capital outlay project at the Upper Elementary School.
Consistent with much of the capital project, the main purpose of the capital outlay project at the Upper Elementary School is safety and security. As part of the project, the staircase in the main lobby of the school will be removed and the main entrance vestibule will be expanded. The work, also to include new impenetrable doors and glass, will create a properly secured entranceway in compliance with state regulations.
“The project was designed in consultation with safety experts,” Superintendent of Schools Rocco Migliori said. “While the appearance will be a lot different, the project is purely about safety and security – not cosmetics.”
The district plans to fund the project in two phases. Phase One will be paid for using 2020-21 capital outlay funding and Phase Two, if approved by district voters in May, will be paid for using 2021-22 capital outlay funding.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2021-22 school year.