YORK HIGH SCHOOL BOND ISSUE - Election Day is Nov. 15th but early voting has begun and you can vote during regular business hours at the courthouse Monday-Friday anytime between now and November 15th. On November 15th, you will vote at the City Auditorium if you live within the city limits. If you live outside the city limits, you will vote at the 4-H building on the fairgrounds.
• The proposed project of $12.535 million would allow for a major upgrade of almost $3 million to the electrical and mechanical capacities at YHS. Right now, we use a single-mode heating and cooling system that is very inefficient. The whole building is in either heating or cooling mode. If this bond passes, we would move towards a dual mode system where we could isolate specific areas like the auditorium to heat or cool only. This would save lots of energy and money on our utility bills.
• School Safety is a main component of this bond issue. The office complex would be moved to the south entrance of YHS and all other entry points would be locked and monitored after the school day begins. Visitors would have to get visual and verbal access to the building instead of being able to come and go whenever/wherever they want like they can now.
• The school district’s tax levy is currently $1.26 but was $1.29 two years ago. The school district has cut over $1.1 million in General Fund spending in the past two years so it can allocate money to take care of its facilities on a more regular basis.
• YHS has a very small and insufficient kitchen, food preparation, and serving area as meals are currently prepared at YMS and transported over daily. If this bond passes, the kitchen would be expanded to prepare more meals on site. This would help YPS pursue a modified closed campus approach where more students ate lunch at school on a regular basis.
• YHS is showing its age and the effects of being 36+ years old with no major renovations. Among numerous other things, this bond would allow the district to address numerous issues like handicapped accessibility and technology infrastructure.
• Art, band, and vocal music would get larger classrooms that are more conducive to small and large group work. The vocal and band rooms would also have much better acoustics and practice areas.
• The added gym would help cut back on 6 AM and 6 PM practices for our students. This would get our students home to their families at a more reasonable hour. It would also allow the school district to accommodate more youth and community activities that require a gym. With only three gyms in our district, all of them are currently booked with school, youth, and community events for most evenings for the next 18+ months.
• This project would improve lighting, windows, doors, and main entry ways all around the building. Natural light would be brought into the areas with no windows. Energy efficient doors, lights, and windows would help cut down on annual utility bills.
• If passed, this bond issue would add parking to our campus and an additional outlet to Delaware Avenue to help alleviate the bottleneck that is created daily along Duke Drive.
• If passed, this bond would raise taxes LESS than $97 per year per $100,000 of valuation.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
YHS Bond Issue Questions and Answers
“We built a brand new school (YMS) just a few years ago for $9.6 million. Why does it cost $12.535 million for the high school?”
- YMS is 77,640 sq feet and YHS is almost twice as large at over 125,000 sq feet
- Its construction cost revolved around $104.97 per square foot in 2005-06
- To put that in perspective, with updated construction costs, Seward Middle (108,232 square feet) is being built right now at a cost of $143.89 per square feet
- York High School’s proposed cost projections include:
* 24,648 square feet of additions @ $133.05 per square foot
* 125,380 square feet of renovations @ $59.42 per square foot
* 6,895 square feet of storage/admin office addition @ $85 per sq. foot
“How much would a brand new high school cost?”
- Architecture and construction cost projections are in the $30 million range
“Is this bond ‘all inclusive’ and allow for furniture, equipment, etc.?”
- The $12,535,000 allows for fixed equipment like cabinets and shelving but not for new, movable furniture like tables, chairs, etc.
“What would YPS do with the current administrative office out on North Delaware?”
- We would look to sell it and use the profits to help pay for our facility project.
“What is the tentative timeline for this project if the bond election is successful?”
- Construction would hopefully begin by May 2012 and conclude by September 2013
“How big would the fine arts addition of larger and better art, vocal music, and band rooms be to the auditorium?”
- Those additions would total about 12,000 square feet
“How large would the second gym be?”
- It would be about 12,000 square feet and would be wide enough to have cross courts
“Why look to add a gym now?”
- There are many, many more activities now than there were in the 1970’s
- This is more about YOUTH programs than it is about “just high school programs”
- With only 3 gyms in our district, youth programs have them full for the next 18+ months
- YPS also hosts adult activities and many community activities as well
- With an added gym, YPS would be able to limit the amount of early morning and late evening practices/activities thus giving our students more time to be at home with family, to work on homework, etc.
- With construction costs and interest rates like they are now, the decision was made to try and address all of the school district’s needs; not just some of them.
- This project would allow YPS to be in great shape for 25-30 years
- YMS is 77,640 sq feet and YHS is almost twice as large at over 125,000 sq feet
- Its construction cost revolved around $104.97 per square foot in 2005-06
- To put that in perspective, with updated construction costs, Seward Middle (108,232 square feet) is being built right now at a cost of $143.89 per square feet
- York High School’s proposed cost projections include:
* 24,648 square feet of additions @ $133.05 per square foot
* 125,380 square feet of renovations @ $59.42 per square foot
* 6,895 square feet of storage/admin office addition @ $85 per sq. foot
“How much would a brand new high school cost?”
- Architecture and construction cost projections are in the $30 million range
“Is this bond ‘all inclusive’ and allow for furniture, equipment, etc.?”
- The $12,535,000 allows for fixed equipment like cabinets and shelving but not for new, movable furniture like tables, chairs, etc.
“What would YPS do with the current administrative office out on North Delaware?”
- We would look to sell it and use the profits to help pay for our facility project.
“What is the tentative timeline for this project if the bond election is successful?”
- Construction would hopefully begin by May 2012 and conclude by September 2013
“How big would the fine arts addition of larger and better art, vocal music, and band rooms be to the auditorium?”
- Those additions would total about 12,000 square feet
“How large would the second gym be?”
- It would be about 12,000 square feet and would be wide enough to have cross courts
“Why look to add a gym now?”
- There are many, many more activities now than there were in the 1970’s
- This is more about YOUTH programs than it is about “just high school programs”
- With only 3 gyms in our district, youth programs have them full for the next 18+ months
- YPS also hosts adult activities and many community activities as well
- With an added gym, YPS would be able to limit the amount of early morning and late evening practices/activities thus giving our students more time to be at home with family, to work on homework, etc.
- With construction costs and interest rates like they are now, the decision was made to try and address all of the school district’s needs; not just some of them.
- This project would allow YPS to be in great shape for 25-30 years
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
After-School Programs doing well at YES & YMS
Our 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant has helped us establish after-school programs at YES and YMS this year. Both programs are off to a good start.
Here are some tid-bits on each:
1) We have 75 students enrolled in the BOOST Program at YES. This programs runs Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30 for children in 2nd-5th grade. Each participant receives a healthy snack, homework assistance time, recess/physical activity time, and gets to participate in special workshops like Zumba Tonic, career awareness, etc.
2) We have close to 40 students enrolled in the ALL-STARS Program at YMS. This program runs Monday-Thursday from 3:30-6:00 PM and allows for healthy snacks, physical activity time, homework assistance, academic enrichment, and special guest speakers and activities. They've already experienced a card club, art club, and presentations on crocheting and careers in aeronautics.
Thanks to York General Hospital and "The Let's Move Grant" for partnering with us!
Here are some tid-bits on each:
1) We have 75 students enrolled in the BOOST Program at YES. This programs runs Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30 for children in 2nd-5th grade. Each participant receives a healthy snack, homework assistance time, recess/physical activity time, and gets to participate in special workshops like Zumba Tonic, career awareness, etc.
2) We have close to 40 students enrolled in the ALL-STARS Program at YMS. This program runs Monday-Thursday from 3:30-6:00 PM and allows for healthy snacks, physical activity time, homework assistance, academic enrichment, and special guest speakers and activities. They've already experienced a card club, art club, and presentations on crocheting and careers in aeronautics.
Thanks to York General Hospital and "The Let's Move Grant" for partnering with us!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
YHS Bond Issue
Upcoming Opportunities to learn more about the YHS bond issue:
1) Building tours from 2:00-3:00 PM on October 9, 16, 23, and November 6.
2) Public forums from 7:00-8:00 PM on October 19 and 26.
Please visit www.yorkpublic.org and click on the "YHS Bond Issue" tab on the left side for much more information, pictures, etc.
Below are some comments from two community members:
I attended all four Community Committee meetings which were held earlier this year and provided information from the school administration regarding the many problems that currently exist at the York High School building. A tour was a real eye opener into the many areas of the school that are now sadly deficient. There is serious concern regarding building security and efficiency. These are areas considered dangerous as a result of the analysis of the electrical and wiring system this past fall. There is an inability to keep out moisture and difficulty in maintaining comfortable and efficient climate control settings. There is inability to prepare enough food on site to feed the students. The band and choir facilities are not large enough and specialized enough to meet programming needs. Natural lighting is lacking, carpeting is worn and needs replacement and lockers are sadly outdated. There is an inability to patrol and control who comes in and out of the building because of the current Office/Administration location. Currently the school needs to have early morning and late night athletic practices because of a lack of gym space which a new gym would alleviate. There are numerous other concerns and needs that should be addressed.
As one who graduated from and is thankful for the education received from the York Public Schools, I would strongly urge all citizens of York to visit York High School and become aware of the many problems that need correction. The school is 36 years old and major renovations have never been done.
I feel the time is now and strongly support the proposed bond issue to upgrade and correct the many deficiencies at York High School. -- Harold M. Nordlund, M.D.
When looking at the High School Bond issue from the business side, what would be a better time than now to construct and finance the proposed YHS project? With all-time low interest rates and a good time to find low construction costs, it only makes sense to vote Yes for this Bond. On a personal note, being from the Class of 1975, the first class to graduate from the (at that time) new High School, I would hate to see this building fall into disrepair and end up being like the old Middle School where it was not economically feasible to remodel the existing building. -- Kendell Holthus
1) Building tours from 2:00-3:00 PM on October 9, 16, 23, and November 6.
2) Public forums from 7:00-8:00 PM on October 19 and 26.
Please visit www.yorkpublic.org and click on the "YHS Bond Issue" tab on the left side for much more information, pictures, etc.
Below are some comments from two community members:
I attended all four Community Committee meetings which were held earlier this year and provided information from the school administration regarding the many problems that currently exist at the York High School building. A tour was a real eye opener into the many areas of the school that are now sadly deficient. There is serious concern regarding building security and efficiency. These are areas considered dangerous as a result of the analysis of the electrical and wiring system this past fall. There is an inability to keep out moisture and difficulty in maintaining comfortable and efficient climate control settings. There is inability to prepare enough food on site to feed the students. The band and choir facilities are not large enough and specialized enough to meet programming needs. Natural lighting is lacking, carpeting is worn and needs replacement and lockers are sadly outdated. There is an inability to patrol and control who comes in and out of the building because of the current Office/Administration location. Currently the school needs to have early morning and late night athletic practices because of a lack of gym space which a new gym would alleviate. There are numerous other concerns and needs that should be addressed.
As one who graduated from and is thankful for the education received from the York Public Schools, I would strongly urge all citizens of York to visit York High School and become aware of the many problems that need correction. The school is 36 years old and major renovations have never been done.
I feel the time is now and strongly support the proposed bond issue to upgrade and correct the many deficiencies at York High School. -- Harold M. Nordlund, M.D.
When looking at the High School Bond issue from the business side, what would be a better time than now to construct and finance the proposed YHS project? With all-time low interest rates and a good time to find low construction costs, it only makes sense to vote Yes for this Bond. On a personal note, being from the Class of 1975, the first class to graduate from the (at that time) new High School, I would hate to see this building fall into disrepair and end up being like the old Middle School where it was not economically feasible to remodel the existing building. -- Kendell Holthus
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