Frequently Asked Questions

On Tuesday, November 3, voters will consider three separate ballot questions designed to address identified facility needs throughout the district. Each question focuses on a different set of priorities and allows residents to consider those investments independently. Questions 2 and 3 are contingent upon Question 1 passing.

Question 1 focuses on the district's most pressing educational, operational, safety, accessibility, and deferred maintenance needs. It includes improvements to CTE spaces, science labs, Special Education areas, band and choir facilities, physical education and wrestling spaces, security upgrades, ADA improvements, deferred maintenance projects, kitchen and concession renovations, and a capital projects levy that would support ongoing technology, equipment, curriculum, transportation, and infrastructure investments.

Question 2 focuses on improvements to the high school media center, updates to the auditorium, and addressing deferred maintenance needs at our bus garage. This question can only pass if Question 1 passes.

Question 3 focuses on outdoor athletic facility improvements, including relocating football and track facilities to the main campus, constructing a competition track, improving spectator amenities, and relocating baseball and softball fields. This question can only pass if Question 1 passes.

For a full list of details, visit The Plan Page.

Presenting multiple questions allows voters to consider each investment independently while prioritizing the district's most critical educational and facility needs through Question 1.

Questions 2 and 3 are contingent upon Question 1 passing. If Question 1 does not pass, Questions 2 and 3 cannot be implemented.

Yes. You can view conceptual drawings for each ballot question on our Plan Page. These are not finalized and simply show the different areas that will be addressed in the plan. Schools don’t typically invest in developing detailed design plans until funding is secured. 

State law requires school districts to present one facility plan per ballot question. We explored alternatives but determined that this three-question bond best meets our current needs while respecting taxpayer resources.

Ultimately, you will decide whether to invest in our school. If the referendum fails, we will not make these improvements. The challenges in our building will continue to grow, and the costs of addressing them will likely increase. Our school board will re-evaluate the next steps forward, which may include another voter-approved referendum.

If approved, the proposed improvements would create learning environments that better reflect how students learn today while also supporting future generations of learners. Students would benefit from modernized Career and Technical Education spaces that expand opportunities for hands-on, career-focused learning. Updated science labs would improve laboratory instruction and collaboration. Centralized Special Education spaces would provide more coordinated support services, while new band and choir facilities would provide improved rehearsal, instruction, performance preparation, and storage opportunities. Students would also benefit from safer entrances, improved accessibility, enhanced athletic and wellness spaces, more efficient technology resources, and facilities that better support both academic and extracurricular success. Together, these improvements would help create learning environments designed to support student achievement, safety, wellness, and engagement while providing the resources needed to develop flexible, engaged learners and responsible citizens.

The proposed improvements would help create more functional and efficient work environments for teachers, support staff, coaches, and administrators. Enhanced educational spaces would provide greater instructional flexibility and allow staff to better support a variety of learning styles and student needs. Centralizing Special Education services would strengthen collaboration and improve service delivery. Improved CTE, science, music, and athletic facilities would provide staff with spaces specifically designed for modern instruction and programming. Security upgrades, accessibility improvements, and deferred maintenance investments would also improve the day-to-day experience for staff by creating safer, healthier, and more efficient working conditions throughout the district.

Our school serves as much more than a place for students to learn. It serves as a gathering place for community events, performances, activities, athletic competitions, and lifelong learning opportunities. If approved, these improvements would help preserve and protect a valuable community asset while ensuring the district can continue providing opportunities for future generations. Updated facilities would support greater community use, improve accessibility, enhance safety, create more opportunities for local events and activities, and help avoid more costly facility repairs in the future. In addition, improvements to athletic, fine arts, and educational spaces would strengthen community pride and help ensure New York Mills remains a vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family.

No. The plan would replace the existing wrestling room and add one additional wrestling room. In other words, the district would go from one wrestling room today to two wrestling rooms as part of the proposed plan.

As part of the overall plan, the current wrestling room would be repurposed to provide needed athletic support functions, including a dedicated athletic trainer room, visitor locker room, storage, and improved student circulation. A new wrestling room, similar in size to the current room, would be constructed adjacent to the expanded fitness area to replace the existing wrestling space.

The plan would also add a second wrestling room sized for a single mat. Together, the two wrestling spaces would provide greater flexibility to support the growing boys' and girls' wrestling programs, along with physical education classes, Developmental Adaptive Physical Education (DAPE), and indoor recess due to inclement weather.