DCMO BOCES District Superintendent Michael Rullo was at the Otselic Valley Central School Board of Education meeting on October 16 to provide information on Renewal 2027, a proposed capital building project that includes upgrades to the DCMO BOCES campuses in Sidney Center and Norwich. Listening are (from left) Secretary to the Superintendent and District Clerk Gail Burpee, School Business Official Chad Walls, and Superintendent Brian Collier. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH - The Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Educational Services (DCMO BOCES) Board of Education reviewed a proposed capital building project plan at their meeting on Wednesday, October 8. The plan calls for a $44.4 million renovation of the Robert W. Harrold Campus (Sidney Center, NY) and the Alan D. Pole Campus (Norwich, NY), and the purchase of the former Masonville Elementary School to house programs for students. Both the renovations and the purchase of the Masonville School site are subject to voter approval.

The plan was developed over the last year by a team that included architects, construction managers, municipal advisors, local school superintendents, DCMO BOCES Board of Education members, administrators, and staff. In developing the details of the project, the group was guided by the “core four” principles of providing a safe and secure space for students; building flexibility in the facilities; expanding opportunities for students; and providing responsible stewardship of the resources.

Under the proposed plan, main entrances at both campuses will be remodeled to improve safety and security, and learning spaces will be renovated to provide modern, flexible places to learn: updating classrooms and creating spaces that can serve multiple purposes, building specialty learning hubs for specific purposes, remodeling shop spaces to allow for new and growing programs, and creating professional, large-group meeting spaces.

"This proposed capital construction project is a critical investment in the future of our students and the communities we serve,” according to Michael Rullo, DCMO BOCES District Superintendent. “By addressing infrastructure needs and enhancing the spaces where our students learn and our staff work, we are not only improving safety and functionality but also expanding opportunities for high-quality, hands-on learning.”

Project highlights include a new entrance to the building housing Career and Technical Education shops and classrooms at the Harrold Campus to provide a single point of access, and a new hallway to facilitate movement in the building without having to go through other shops. At the Pole Campus, the heating system will be converted to a propane-based system, replacing a fuel oil heating system. This will include removing an underground tank and converting existing boilers to propane.

With buildings that are over 50 years old, with most recent additions nearing 20 years old, there are a number of structural items that need to be repaired or replaced, including roofs and skylights, shop floor drainage systems, exterior walls, windows, and doors, and driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks.

DCMO BOCES is also proposing acquiring the Masonville School building from the Sidney Central School District to house programs for students. The building was originally designed as a school, and has been maintained and improved by the Sidney School District. The site includes ample outdoor space, and is on a route many buses already take to the Harrold Campus.

The last DCMO BOCES capital project was completed nearly 20 years ago, and the final payments on the debt for that project will be made in August 2027. The proposed capital project has been planned so that new debt payments will occur after the last payment is made on the 2008-09 project. School districts are expected to see a decrease in the amount of their share of DCMO BOCES’ debt, while taxpayers will see on average a $0.02 (two cent) increase per $1,000 of full value on their property taxes.

"We’ve worked diligently to ensure this plan is fiscally responsible, maximizing state aid and minimizing local impact, so that we can deliver long-term value while meeting the evolving educational demands of today and tomorrow," Rullo said.

Over the next few months, Rullo and other administrators will be giving informational presentations to local school district boards of education and other community venues. The capital building project will be presented to voters for approval on February 3, 2026. There will be two questions on the ballot: 1) Can DCMO BOCES carry out a $44.4 million capital project to renovate, upgrade and add to its facilities; and 2) Can DCMO BOCES purchase the Masonville School from Sidney CSD and renovate it for use for BOCES programming. All residents of the sixteen school districts in the DCMO BOCES region who are age 18 or older are eligible to vote, as long as they have lived in the region during the previous 30 days. Voting sites will be located at all sixteen school districts and both DCMO BOCES campuses. The referendum is not required to pass in each individual district, just region-wide.

DCMO BOCES is a regional provider of educational services to students and schools, and operates school campuses in Sidney Center and Norwich. For more information on the capital building project, visit the DCMO BOCES website at dcmoboces.com/page/capital-building-project. To find out more about DCMO BOCES services and programs, visit www.dcmoboces.com.