Capital Improvement Project 2019
Volante Field Renovation Project
On Dec. 10, 2019 Dryden Central School District residents will have the opportunity to vote on a Capital Improvement Project. The $3 million project will be the final step in completing the renovations to Volante Field at the Middle/High School, creating a state-of-the-art facility for our students and community.
This project primarily includes installation of a multi-purpose synthetic turf field at the Middle/High School. The new field will accommodate our physical education programs, as well as our athletic programs, including football, soccer, lacrosse, and baseball practices. Dryden is committed to our community partners and the new field would be available for town athletic programs and events, becoming a showpiece for the community.
“Primarily our core belief is that students come first,” Superintendent Joshua Bacigalupi said, “so when we have a synthetic turf field our students are able to get out there a lot earlier in the season for practicing which makes us more competitive, our middle school and high school PE classes benefit from more use of a turf field throughout the year, increased flexibility with PE classes and the ability to offer new programs. There’s lots of things that make synthetic turf desirable and we’re really looking forward to that opportunity.”
This project will also include a new sound system and drainage improvements at the MS/HS field and interior corridor safety improvements across the District.
“We’re putting money into our facilities because we value the experiences that our students will have and that our guests will have when they come here” Bacigalupi said.
In addition, the District is offering a second proposition for the purchase of a lot adjacent to Dryden Elementary School in preparations to use that lot in future improvement projects at the elementary school.
The total cost of the project is $3,000,000. It will be fully funded by leveraging New York State Building Aid, managing debt service payments, and using the District’s existing capital reserve funds. This funding is only available to be used for site and building improvements. The project will be tax neutral, resulting in no additional tax increase for Dryden CSD residents.
“It comes back to students being first, we’re trying to offer them the best opportunities that we can,” Bacigalupi said.
Community members are invited to learn more about the proposed projects by attending community meetings on Monday, Nov. 18 at 7pm and on Monday, Dec. 2 at 7pm both hosted in the High School Library.