Sherburne-Earlville asks voters to approve $25.2 million project

SHERBURNE – On Tuesday, Dec. 18, voters in the Sherburne-Earlville School District will be asked to approve a $25.2 million project that administrators say will address the current and future needs of the district.

Assistant Superintendent Thomas Strain explained that while the district has a beautiful and well-equipped facility, the middle/high school building was constructed in 1970, and even the newer elementary school building is now 11 years old.

“Technology is rapidly changing, and the number of hours the school is occupied increases every year. Energy costs continue to increase, and school security is always a concern and a priority. We have an obligation to protect our investment in the facilities, and we presently have an opportunity to update and upgrade our facilities at virtually no cost to local taxpayers,” Strain said.

Although the cost of the improvements is high, Strain explained since the Sherburne and Earlville Districts merged in 1970, the state provides additional building aid, totaling a 95 percent ratio. In addition, several districts are currently taking advantage of another state funding source: EXCEL Aid. Sherburne-Earlville has been designated $1.3 million in EXCEL Aid, which can be used for improvements in educational technology, health and safety, which includes building security, accessibility for students with disabilities, expansion of physical capacity and energy efficiency.

Finally, the state provides an additional 3 percent aid for high poverty districts, which includes Sherburne-Earlville. “This will reduce our local cost to zero,” Strain said.