Amherst Schools
EXCEL aid discussed
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Last April, the Amherst Central School District received $964,000 in new supplemental aid called EXCEL (Expanding our Children's Education and Learning). How the district can use that aid was the main topic at the Oct. 3 Amherst Central Board of Education meeting.

Bill Hayes of Thomas Associates told the board that EXCEL is a $2.6 billion program added to the 2006-07 New York State budget. It is funded by the New York State Dormitory Authority.

Hayes said each school district in the state is allocated EXCEL aid for building projects once after April 1, 2006. EXCEL is only available for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.

According to Hayes, EXCEL could be used for more than one capital construction project and must follow State Education Department guidelines. Seventy-five percent of the project has to include work for EXCEL categories.

The categories are educational technology, health and safety, accessibility, physical capacity expansion, energy enhancement/reduced consumption and debt service.

Mark Whyle, the district's director of administrative services,

EXCEL aid discussed said the district could use EXCEL as a $964,000 grant that would not need voter approval or as part of a $3.3 million bond issue, which would require a referendum.

"It has been suggested that EXCEL aid could be spread over 15 years to take the place of the taxpayer contribution, which would mean that the taxpayers in the district would contribute nothing towards that," he said. "The refund would come through the state building aid at around 70 percent and the other 30 percent from EXCEL aid. If you wanted to do that with no contribution to the taxpayers, you could break even with a $3.3 million bond issue."

Whyle said there is also the potential, if the board chose, to borrow up to $10.8 million, $3.3 from EXCEL aid and $7.5 million from another maturing bond.

Whyle said an additional $230,000 left over from a previous capital construction project could pay for roof vents at the high school and put a temporary, wooden, roof-type structure on top of the air-handling unit to stop a leak above the Windermere Boulevard Elementary pool. A new roof will eventually be installed, said Whyle.

Whyle said both roofs have already been approved by voters but have to be taken to the State Education Department for an engineering review, which could possibly take 14 weeks.

"Once they get to review it, we will be authorized to bid that work out," said Whyle. "It could take up to four months or longer because every school district in the state is considering a capital project right now because of EXCEL aid, and the folks in Albany are probably quite short-staffed."

Other possible district capital projects include site and sidewalk work at the high school, boiler replacement at Windermere and a first floor hallway replacement at Smallwood Drive Elementary.

The board did not make a final decision on where to use EXCEL aid and will set up a work session with Thomas Associates for further discussion.

In another matter, Acting Superintendent Paul Wietig has written a draft of requirements necessary for the Smallwood principal position. Barbara Marotto, the current principal, will retire July 1, 2007.

Wietig said the district would begin to solicit potential letters of interest before the job is posted later this year.

"At this time, it doesn't compromise the process," he said. "It makes sense. It shows the board what is out there."

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com