ITHACA, NY (WSKG) - Voters in the Ithaca City School District will decide on a $120-million dollar capital project in today's election.
The school district’s capital plan is divided into three phases over the next ten years.
Amanda Verba, who's the district’s Chief Operating Officer, says the first phase will last two to three years with a focus on improved school security, with enhancements to the entrances of most of the elementary schools and Ithaca High School. There are also plans for a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) lab at the high school.
Some proposed improvements at the high school would provide students with mental and emotional care. Verba said the changes would give students more privacy to “calm down…[and] re-set” before going back into classes “ready to learn”.
She explained, "We want to have spaces in our building where young people can actually do that in a way that’s supported by a caring adult."
In phases two and three, security improvements will continue. And there will be upgrades to auditoriums, parking, and aging electrical and plumbing systems.
The district describes this budget as “tax neutral” because it will maintain the current debt level.
Residents can vote today from 12 to 9 p.m.