Newark School ok's vote
By John Zornow

A special community vote was approved Wednesday by the Newark Board of Education. It will take place Tuesday, April 21 at the high school.

The following propositions will be on the ballot for the residents to vote upon:

* Lease with the Village of Newark for Municipal Building office space.

The voters will be asked to authorize the board to negotiate a new lease with the village for the fourth floor office space that is currently being used for district offices.

* Authorization for bidding, by the school board, for four new school buses not to exceed $298,000.

* The board has agreed to establish a Capital Reserve Fund (savings account) not to exceed $3,000,000. Voters need to authorize the board to establish this fund.

What is this Capital Reserve Fund? It is a savings account in which the board agrees to add to on a yearly basis to "soften the blow," when projects must be done. Board member Orville Martin reminded people that without the $900,000 in savings that the district had to start with, the current capital project would not be as affordable.

The board voted to authorize the re-bidding of electrical, site work, HVAC, general construction, and asbestos-removal phases of the project.

A preliminary discussion was held by board members concerning BOCES classroom needs. BOCES is looking for space, and, as always, Newark is considered. Board member Russ Harris pointed out that Newark pays 7 percent of the BOCES budget. If Newark were to have BOCES classrooms here, the district would be reimbursed (by the state) up to 50 percent of construction costs. Local BOCES students would attend school in Newark, instead of in other towns.

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