December 14, 2009

CORNING -- Taxpayers in the Corning-Painted Post School District will vote on the long-awaited facilities plan Tuesday.
     The project has been in the works for 18 months on paper, but controversy over the issue has been around a lot longer.
     The Vote Yes Now group has their take on the plan -- the "vote no" people have theirs.  But both sides agree -- do your homework before you vote.
     “[It’s been] lot of hard work, a lot of study, a lot of engagement with the community.  Certainly we're extremely proud of the effort, regardless of the result tomorrow,” said C-PP superintendent Mike Ginalski.
     Ginalski is hoping for a good turnout at the polls Tuesday.  If voters pass the $174 million plan, Frank Pierce, Kent Phillips, and Lindley-Presho Elementary Schools; Corning Free Academy and Northside Blodgett Middle Schools; and the District's administration building would close.
     West High School would become one big middle school, and East High would become one high school.  Administrative offices would move into CFA.
     “We’re putting more students in fewer buildings. Students now are falling through the cracks and it's going to be worse when there's one high school,” said Sylvia Huber from the Corning Area United Taxpayers Association.
     Huber says the C-PP board is "playing games with taxpayers' money."
     And she doesn't buy the district's claim there won't be a tax increase with the project.
     “Anything that involves the $241 million brick and mortar plan has to be implemented into the operating budget,” explained Huber
     On the other side, Janelle Meteer of “Vote Yes Now” said, “There no tax increase associated with this construction project.  We can't predict what energy prices will do.  We can't say there will be no tax increase."
     Meteer says support for the project is unprecedented, following several facilities defeats over the years.
     “People need to vote not on just on their own individual spot in the world, but as a member of this community.  They need to think about the big picture,” said Meteer.
     If voters pass the plan, it still needs approval from two state agencies and the comptroller.

CLICK HERE for polling locations and hours.

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