Otselic Valley sets date for referendum

SOUTH OTSELIC – On Nov. 18, voters in the Otselic Valley School District will be asked to vote on a capital project estimated at approximately $15.5 million.

For the past year, the Board of Education has been discussing the possibility of renovating and building an addition onto the high school building in South Otselic and creating a combined kindergarten through 12th grade classroom. Currently, the district is spread out, with more than 10 miles separating the elementary school in Georgetown and the high school in South Otselic.

The board decided to pursue the plan for the combined campuses after receiving a building condition report last year. The board examined three options: merging with other school districts, updating both buildings, or combining the campuses. They decided on the combined campus.

Roy Herfort, from the Greenwood Corporation, a construction management company, attended Wednesday night’s meeting of the Board of Education to explain what steps need to take place. “We’re still waiting for [New York State Education Department] review, but the plan has been submitted,” he said. “We should have a formal response next week.”