Cornwall Central School District

In May 2022, District voters approved multiple crucial propositions establishing the District’s trajectory toward continuous improvement of our school buildings and facilities. 

Included were two propositions for capital projects totaling just over $23 million.  This work was divided into three phases and included improvements to all school buildings. With the exception of the window replacement project at Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School which will be finished in the Summer of 2026, all work associated with these projects has been completed. 

Although this capital project was the biggest investment our community has made in our facilities in a generation, there is more work to be done.  There were many projects identified during the planning process in 2022 that didn’t quite make the cut – in the ensuing four years these issues have become more immediate needs.  The District’s administration and the school board meet regularly, constantly planning and looking for ways to tackle these additional improvements.

Along with the propositions establishing the last capital project, in May 2022 the community approved the establishment of a $5 million Capital Reserve Fund to be used for necessary future repairs.  Every dollar in this Fund is matched by roughly three dollars in state aid, making it a powerful financial tool.  As of June 30, 2025 this Capital Reserve Fund is fully funded with the approved $5 million which allows the district to tackle a new $20 million capital project – again, without raising local school taxes.

Similarly, in May 2025, the community approved the establishment of another $5 million Capital Reserve Fund.  This Fund will be utilized in the same manner; towards future repairs and matched by a roughly three to one ratio for state aid.  As of June 30, 2025 this Fund holds just over $2.5 million.  

For the last 18 months, the District’s Facilities Committee has been hard at work considering which necessary infrastructure improvements should be included in newly proposed projects.  Utilizing the needs assessments from the 2022 capital project as well as the 2025 Building Conditions Survey, a formal architectural and engineering evaluation process submitted to New York State, the District has identified a wide range of needs to tackle.

Based on their findings, the District Facilities Committee has made a recommendation to the full Board of Education to move forward with a new capital project to be voted on in May 2026.  The Board of Education agrees with this recommendation and is proposing the capital projects to the community to be voted on as three separate propositions.  Information about each of the propositions is detailed below.  Based on the financial position of the district, inclusive of our capital reserve funds and debt that is set to expire in 2030 when bond payments would be issued, each proposition has varying levels of tax impact on our community.