TROY – A $56 million building improvement referendum won the support of Troy City School District voters Tuesday who approved the modernization program in a 379 to 115 vote.

“On behalf of the Board of Education, I would like to thank the Troy community for taking the time to come out and vote in support of this project,” Superintendent John Carmello said. “Thanks to you, we will have modernized 21st century buildings with improved learning spaces so all of our students can reach their full potential and achieve success. At the same time, it will allow us to increase the safety and security of our buildings as that is our highest priority.”

District voters in Troy and Brunswick will see no impact on their property taxes as state aid will pay for the $52 million bond issue and about $4 million from the district's capital reserves will cover the costs.

The building program will take several years to complete. Contractor bidding will begin in 2020. Renovations will begin during the summer of 2021 and continue through Summer 2024.

It includes the creation of the Troy Community School, upgrades to the Troy High School tech wing and improvements at most of the district elementary schools.

Voting was held at School 2, School 12, School 14, School 16, School 18 and Carroll Hill School Tuesday as city public works crews dealt with snow removal after a two-day storm dumped close to two feet of snow on the Capital Region.

The project includes spending $1.1 million to buy three properties from Sage to house the proposed Troy Community School. The district will receive $935,000 in state aid for the purchase.

The properties include the Dr. Jeanne H. Neff Athletic Center complex on 4.5 acres at 1010 Fifth Ave., which has indoor facilities and a softball field. The purchase price also covers the acquisition of 10.83 acres of wooded land on the south side of the athletic complex and a parking lot across the street from the complex at 1017 Fifth Ave. All the parcels cover about 16 acres.

The opening of the Troy Community School will allow for the expansion of the district’s alternative learning program, which works with the most at-risk students in the district.

At Troy High School, the tech wing will be modernized for state-of-the-art STEM programs and the tech wing roof will be replaced.

At Carroll Hill School windows will be replaced. Classroom walls will be installed at School 14 and the pool area converted to a new home for the district Buildings and Grounds Department.

School 16 will be made compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, including the installation of an elevator. Additional classroom space will be added. At School 18, the pool area and other areas will be converted to classroom space.

School 12’s first two floors will be used as space for students from Schools 16 and 18 during construction. The district projects School 18 students and staff will be at School 12 during the 2022-23 school year. The School 16 students and staff will be at School 12 during the 2023-24 school year.