TROY — The Troy school district is asking residents to vote Jan. 23 on whether to renovate a wing of one of its elementary schools to better serve children and families in the neighborhood.

The project at School 2 — a $1.2 million renovation to create private rooms for medical care, counseling and family services — would not require a tax increase. State aid would cover 88 percent of the cost, with the remainder covered by grant funds the district received this fall.

The $550,896 grant was awarded as part of the state's community schools initiative, which aims to help schools in distressed communities tackle barriers to student achievement that exist outside the classroom doors — things like hunger, trauma, mental illness and family conflict.

A growing push to address these barriers in recent years has prompted some schools to become "community schools" where, in addition to providing education, they offer additional services like medical or dental care, mental health counseling or food pantries, depending on the needs of the community. The services are provided right on school grounds, typically through partnerships with local agencies and hospitals.

"We know that when families have the services they need to be healthy and supported, academic achievement improves for our students, both on the elementary level and as they move on to our secondary schools and beyond," said Superintendent John Carmello.

State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia told the Times Union on Monday that educators have embraced the idea of community schools, but that many did not have the physical space to actually offer the services on school grounds.

The grant Troy received will mostly be used on academic programming, but $188,324 was allotted for capital improvements that would support its community school effort.

"This is an excellent opportunity for the entire district to come together to vote on a capital project that will strengthen the critical foundation of School 2 students, and benefit the larger Troy community at no additional cost to taxpayers," Carmello said.

School 2 began moving to a community school model in 2013 after being awarded its first community schools grant. At the time, the school was consistently underperforming others in the district and the state, and eventually placed into receivership, a state designation that gave the superintendent power to make major changes without board approval and put the school at risk of an outside takeover.

The grant allowed the district to hire additional staff and launch new programs, but it expired in 2016. The new grant, awarded this fall, will help sustain those additions, district spokeswoman Erin Clary said.

Services that have been offered at School 2 under its community school model include mental health counseling, parent workshops, focus groups for families, a food pantry, transportation, health and hygiene support, and help working with community agencies.

The remodel would allow the district to offer greater privacy when providing these services. In addition, it has begun partnering with CDPHP to provide additional health and counseling services on site, as well as case management.

If approved at the polls Jan. 23, construction would begin in the summer. The district is working with Hamlin Design Group, an architecture firm with experience in community school projects.

Polls will open at all five elementary schools in the district at 7:30 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

The board of education will hear a presentation on the project at Wednesday's board meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m. at School 2. Community presentations have also been scheduled for Jan. 8, Jan. 9 and Jan. 17. Click here for more information.