Haverling to host briefing on building project
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH - The Haverling school district March 11 will host an informational meeting to brief district voters on a proposed $16.5 million capital project that goes up for a vote March 19. The public meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium.

District Superintendent Marion Tunney noted the polling station for the March 19 vote will be located in the board room of the district office building, located on the prior site of the district bus garage.

School officials decided to relocate the polling station from the high school auditorium out of concern for school security, the possible disruption of classes that use the auditorium and the potential for traffic congestion in front of the high school.

According to Tunney, the easiest route for traffic to access the district office is via Maple Heights off Washington Street. A side road exits Maple Heights before the VEW School and accesses a parking lot adjacent to the office building. Tunney added the district will take steps to provide additional parking spaces near the polling station.

Tunney has noted the revised project will have no impact on the local school tax levy because school board members eliminated items from an earlier $18 million capital project that did not qualify for state building aid. A combination of building aid and state EXCEL funds will cover the total cost of the revised project, she said.

Gone from the retooled building proposal are numerous items, including:

• A $50,000 proposal to purchase property near the soccer fields to create extra parking space

• A $300,000 reconfiguration of locker room space in the VEW primary school to create additional classrooms

• A $192,000 upgrade of corridors in the Middle School

• Expansion of the high school cafeteria

• Additional parking at the bus garage

School district officials also dropped a separate proposal to add artificial turf to the football field, a proposition that would have added $1 million to the original $18 million project.