Overview | Project Highlights | Scope by Building | Voting Information, Timeline and FAQ
Project Overview
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, residents of the Bethlehem Central School District will vote on a proposition that would invest up to $60.0 million to enhance teaching and learning spaces districtwide. The 2025 Capital Project is expected to be budget neutral, with no additional local tax impact for residents.
Through a series of public meetings, the Bethlehem Central Board of Education approved the proposed project, which includes 137 elements across all buildings in the district. The plan features extensive renovations of outdated elementary classrooms and a districtwide cooling project, where air conditioning would be added to identified “hot spots” in several schools and to large common spaces such as gyms, libraries and cafeterias.
Other featured projects include renovation of the Elsmere Library Media Center (LMC), renovation of the Slingerlands Elementary School kitchen and cafeteria, improvements to the Hamagrael cafeteria and gymnasium and the school’s main office, bathroom renovations at the high school and renovation of the “pit” area of the middle school for use by Physical Education/athletics.
The school district maintains nearly 1,000,000 square feet of space across nine buildings. The project would address the long-term durability, safety, efficiency, and maintenance of the district’s infrastructure. Roofing repair and replacements, window and door replacements and repair, paving projects, masonry repairs, boiler replacements, site drainage and other infrastructure maintenance account for the largest share of the planned capital project. More details on the scope of the project can be found below.
The scope of the project was refined during six public Board of Education meetings. Videos of these discussions can be viewed here.
Project Highlights
No additional tax impact
If approved, the 2025 Capital Project is expected to be budget neutral, with no additional tax impact for local residents. New York State reimburses the district for about 71.8 percent of the cost of eligible capital building projects. In addition, the district plans to use $16.6 million from the voter-approved 2022 Capital Reserve fund to offset the cost of the 2025 Capital Project.
The timing of the project is key to keeping it budget neutral: debt service repayment related to the proposed project would begin as debt service payments from older capital projects are expiring, maintaining stability of financing, bond payments and state aid reimbursements.
Classroom Renovations – Approx. 34% of project
Classroom renovations at six of the district’s seven schools are top priorities in the proposed project. At the elementary schools, a total of 45 outdated classrooms would receive new floors, ceilings, lighting, casework and finishes. At the middle school, the art classrooms would be renovated, and renovations at the high school would include an art classroom, a Family and Consumer Science (FACS) classroom and technology classrooms. The total cost of classroom renovations (including upgrades to other student-use areas such as libraries, cafeterias and gyms) districtwide is estimated at $19,989,050. These include:
- Elsmere Elementary School (Built 1927) – 13 classrooms, Library Media Center (LMC) renovations
- Glenmont Elementary School (Built 1957) – 11 classrooms and a hallway
- Hamagrael Elementary School (Built 1954) – 15 classrooms, cafeteria/gym
- Slingerlands Elementary School (Built 1940) – 6 classrooms, cafeteria and kitchen
- Bethlehem Central Middle School (Built 1932) – Three art classrooms. Additionally, the “pit” area would be restored for use by PE/athletics and a below-ground music classroom would be relocated.
- Bethlehem Central High School (Built 1952) – Technology classrooms, a large art room. and a Family & Consumer Science (FACS) room. Also, auto shop, wood shop upgrades and kiln room and photo lab repairs.
- Eagle Elementary School (Built 2008) – No classroom renovations needed.
If the proposed project is approved by voters on Dec. 2, construction would not begin until spring 2027, at the earliest.
The elementary classroom renovations are expected to present logistical challenges due to a compressed schedule and limited swing space at some of the elementary schools. Superintendent Jody Monroe said some students (particularly at Elsmere, Glenmont or Hamagrael) may have to be relocated temporarily to other areas within their schools or to other schools for a period of three to six months during the construction period. She said any plan requiring relocation of students would be determined in 2026, in consultation with the construction team, building leaders, staff and families.
“The elementary classroom renovations are long overdue. These are classrooms that were last renovated between the 1950s and 1970s and they are no longer conducive to modern-day teaching and learning,” said Superintendent Jody Monroe. “Given the number of necessary classroom improvements, we will need creative solutions to minimize the construction impact. The goal will be to limit any student disruption to the best of our abilities.”
A look inside some current elementary classrooms…
Air conditioning in select areas of schools – Approx. 17% of project
The proposed 2025 Capital Project includes air conditioning for select areas of each school. Under the proposal, air conditioning would be added to several classrooms at three schools where temperatures reach the highest points in the district – Elsmere, BCMS and BCHS. Classrooms in areas of these schools often register above 80 degrees during May, June and September.
Air conditioning is also proposed for communal zones such as cafeterias, libraries and gymnasiums that are not air conditioned presently. These are areas that could be repurposed for instruction and testing on hot days in the warmer months during the school year. These areas are also used regularly by community groups year-round.
If approved on Dec. 2, the 2025 Capital Project would add air conditioning in the following locations:
- BCHS: All second-floor classrooms in D and E wings (38 classrooms), cafeteria and gyms A, B and C.
- BCMS: All original building second-floor classrooms (15 classrooms), cafeteria and lower and upper gyms.
- Eagle Elementary School: Gym and cafeteria
- Elsmere Elementary School: All second-floor classrooms (5 classrooms), Library Media Center (LMC), gym and cafeteria.
- Glenmont Elementary School: Library Media Center (LMC) and cafeteria.
- Hamagrael Elementary School: Library Media Center (LMC) and cafeteria
- Slingerlands Elementary School: Library Media Center (LMC) and gym.
Data show that “cooling degree days” in the Albany area (a measure of the amount of cooling that is reasonably needed on a particular day) during the months of May, June and September have exceeded “normal” levels nearly every year between 2012-2025. Only September 2020 had monthly cooling degree days below normal in recent years.
During each of the last two years (2024 and 2025), BC schools have been forced to dismiss early due to high heat in June. A new state law now requires school districts to have plans for relocating students from rooms where the temperature reaches 88 degrees, where possible, and for mitigating classroom temperatures that reach 82 or higher.
Infrastructure and Safety – Approx. 49% of project
The proposed 2025 Capital Project would address infrastructure and safety in and around the district’s schools. Roof replacements, window and door replacements, masonry repairs, plumbing, & electrical and ventilation infrastructure upgrades, and site drainage and paving improvements are proposed throughout the district.
New, upgraded fire/emergency alarm systems would be added at all schools (except the high school, which already has an upgraded alarm system). These alarm systems use flashing lights to provide clear, visual notifications for different types of emergencies, from fires to lockdowns. The new alarm systems can be integrated with other building safety technology and are designed to be accessible to everyone, including those with hearing disabilities.
Proposed Project Scope by Building
The proposed 2025 Capital Project includes improvements and upgrades for every school in the district. A full list of project elements, by building, can be viewed here.
Voting Information, Timeline and FAQ
Voting Information
The vote will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 2 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bethlehem Central High School in Gym A. To vote, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen and a resident of the Bethlehem Central School District for at least 30 days prior to the vote. Absentee ballots will be available from the District Clerk. Voting information will be updated here.
Project Timeline
- May-Oct 2025: Project developed in public meetings
- October 8, 2025: Board of Education approves scope and sets date for vote
- December 2, 2025: Public vote on project referendum
If approved by voters:
- Jan-Aug 2026: Project designs finalized
- Sept 2026: Completed design submitted to State Education Department (SED)
- Jan 2027: Anticipated SED approval
- Feb/Mar 2027 – Bidding process takes place
- Apr 2027 – Construction begins
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
If you have a question regarding the proposed 2025 Capital Project, email districtoffice@bethlehemschools.org. Frequently asked questions will be added here throughout the process.