Board of Education Hears Proposal for Renovations to KWS Bear Road Elementary School and C-NS Land Purchase

At their October 7, 2019 meeting the North Syracuse Central School District's Board of Education heard a proposal to present two propositions to district voters. The propositions for renovations at KWS Bear Road Elementary School and the purchase of land at Cicero-North Syracuse High School are detailed here. The Board of Education will be asked to approve the proposals at their October 21, 2019 meeting. If the Board approves the proposals, the North Syracuse Central School District community will be asked to vote on the propositions on December 17, 2019. 

The district has been working to develop a revised plan for capital project renovations at KWS Bear Road Elementary School after receiving construction bids significantly over the approved project budget in January, 2019. 

KWS Bear Road Elementary School Renovation Proposal History:

• The original planning and initial design for KWS Bear Road Elementary was done between November 2015 and October 2016.
• In October 2016, voters approved the expenditure of $22,500,000 for the Bear Rd. Elementary and Fuel Island projects.
• Bids for the project were opened on February 1, 2019, over 2 years after the planning and initial design was complete due to SED approval process delays.
• Unfortunately, due to extremely competitive market conditions, the bids totaling $35 million were almost $15 million over budget.
• The original budget for renovations to KWS Bear Road Elementary School was $20.9 million.
• Due to the improved economy, many capital projects were initiated in both the private and public sectors during this time period. The number of contractors, skilled tradesmen and laborers available in the marketplace were unable to meet the requirements of the increased work.
• As a result of these nationwide market conditions many capital projects across the country had to be delayed or redesigned.
• The district rejected the bids and began to work with its architects, King & King, on a redesign of the KWS Bear Road renovation project in order to reduce the scope and cost of the work, while achieving the primary objectives of the project.