SALAMANCA — On May 21, residents of the Salamanca City Central School District will vote on a no-additional-tax-impact referendum for the next phase of the $34 million capital project for work at Veterans Memorial Park, Prospect Elementary and the main campus.
Before then, several meetings will take place to inform voters about the project and answer any questions members of the community may have.
“We’ve got some positive feedback from the community meeting we had so far,” said District Superintendent Robert Breidenstein. “We had 90, maybe 100 people when we had our first meeting a couple weeks ago.” The meeting was held April 10 for district faculty.
“So far the comments have been favorable and supportive of the initiative to improve Vets Park, expand some classrooms at Prospect and create some security upgrades on the main campus,” he said.
The rest of the community meetings are set for:
The meetings will include a presentation going through the history of the project, what the project would include and the timeline of events going forward should the resolution pass on May 21, Breidenstein said.
The meetings will also include a question-and-answer session where community members are encouraged to participate. All meetings are open to the public.
“Each presentation will last roughly 30 to 45 minutes, and then with questions and answers it can go as long or as short as the community would like,” Breidenstein said.
THE DISTRICT began discussions of a potential project with the Seneca Nation of Indians and Salamanca Recreation Commission in 2017. Through joint collaboration and several more meetings during the following year, the concept of a 50-year sublease of Vets Park was approved by the Nation in March.
In August, the Recreation Commission and Salamanca Common Council approved the sublease, and in October, the Salamanca Board of Education adopted a resolution supporting the referendum.
On Dec. 18, district voters supported leasing the park to the school with a positive vote. Since then, many groups and stakeholders in the project have been discussing the potential work to be done at Vets Park as well as at Prospect Elementary School, which would include adding more classrooms, and the main campus, which includes security upgrades among other plans.
Potential improvements at Vets Park include athletic field upgrades to allow baseball and lacrosse to be played simultaneously as well as renovations to the concession stands, restrooms, parking, lights, sound system, playground, scoreboard, team rooms and storage areas.
“I’m not anticipating any surprises or any new items coming forward, but if they do, we would certainly welcome that conversation,” Breidenstein said. “While it may not be tied to this project in May or the one currently under construction, it could be a catalyst for future work that may be important for us.”
Part of the public meetings is being responsive to what the community wants the district to do, Breidenstein said. He said one example is the community’s strong response to keeping Prospect open when the district proposed closing it several years ago.
“The community’s role is both timely for May and timely for the future,” he added.
Over the past several months, Breidenstein said comments or opinions about the project have been overwhelmingly positive. He said there have been few questions about the size or scope of the project so far.
“I think there’s a desire to be as progressive and forward-thinking as possible when it comes to improving our facilities and our district resources,” he added. “If someone doesn’t feel that way, I’m at the school every day and would encourage them to stop by.”
Anyone who has additional questions should call the school at 945-2400.
(Contact managing editor Kellen Quigley at kquigleysp@gmail.com)
