BERNE — Four Berne-Knox-Westerlo students — three in the elementary school and one in the secondary school — are in wheelchairs as the school board works to make its facilities in the middle-high school handicap-accessible.

Architect Karl Griffith, of Cataldo, Waters, and Griffith, presented the $13.9 million plan, which was driven by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The project adds a new gym to the high school, taking up much of the existing parking lot between the secondary and elementary schools, and a new lot would have to be added.

The existing gym would be made into two levels — a cafeteria, kitchen, and weight room on the first floor; and a library, library classroom, and art room on the second floor.

The project also adds more space to the auditorium’s stage, sprinklers in the new gym and on the stage, and another boiler.
Griffith, who has worked with the district in the past, said that construction "gets tougher every time," and, when asked when the plan needs to be in place, responded that the state’s Department of Education "would tell you about 10 years ago." Griffith added that the BKW district would be penalized only in the case of a lawsuit. By making the renovations and complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, he said, the district would then be in the position to avoid one.

The board heard from Superintendent Steven Schrade about the remodeling project in August. Schrade said he discussed two options with Griffin — making additions and alterations to the school’s existing gym and adding elevators to access locker rooms and the cafeteria or demolishing the existing gym and reconstructing a new one with accessible facilities. Demolition is more economical, Schrade said. The state defines reconstruction as remodeling, and the district’s share is less, he said.

Griffith, while presenting the construction plans, said there could be some changes.
The plan, Schrade said, is "the culmination of eight or nine months of meetings and discussions," and is the "most appropriate" and "logical." Schrade added that there are no final cost projections for the plan.

Griffith began his presentation by saying that the ADA drove and started the project, and the cafeteria and boys’ locker room in the middle and high school is not accessible to students with handicaps.

The core of the project, Griffith said, is the gym addition.

The existing gym, Griffith said, is two feet narrower than a standard size gym. The new gym, he said, would be two feet wider, to make it regulation size.
The plan also calls for a larger lobby in the secondary school to allow "space for circulation," he said.

Member concerns

Board member John Harlow was concerned about asbestos.
"We do expect to run into some," Griffith said, adding that it is not uncommon. "In the old building, we’re going to hit some. The question is: How much"" he said.

Board member Maureen Sikule asked whether the sixth grade would stay in the middle-high school or be moved back to the elementary school. Schrade said it was recommended to him that the sixth grade stay in the secondary school.

Sikule, who lives in Westerlo, also asked about what the district planned to do with the Westerlo Elementary School. The school was closed in February of 2005, due to dropping enrollment districtwide. BKW then leased the school to the Helderberg Christian School.
"Whatever we do with Westerlo, we still need to do something with this," Schrade said.
Sikule also asked for more concrete numbers, so that she has a better idea of the tax impact to residents. "If we’re looking at about a 2-percent increase in taxes next year, and this would result in only 1-percent on top of that, that’s the bottom line," she said.

That bottom line varies in the seven towns that fall within the BKW School District, based on assessments and the state-set equalization rate.

Berne residents currently pay $26.40 per $1,000 of assessed value; Knox residents will pay $28.43; New Scotland, $18.48; Middleburgh, $26.07; Wright, $22.42; Rensselaerville, $28.00; and Westerlo residents will pay $1,811.96.

Westerlo has not undergone revaluation in decades so many properties are valued at a fraction of their worth.
Schrade said that he and Business Administrator David Weiser will be meeting, and the board will have a special meeting the beginning of January "if we believe this is still in a form we can approve."

Other business

In other business, the school board:

— Approved its high-school course guide with proposed changes for the 2007-08 school year;

— Accepted its policy for emergency school closings;

— Recognized the junior high modified girls’ soccer team. The team won one game last year, and had a record of eight wins, no losses, and two ties this fall; and
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— Approved tax roll changes.