WESTFIELD — Westfield Academy and Central School District is getting the word out regarding the $5.2 million Capital Improvement Project that will soon be subject to a public vote, board members learned at their November meeting.

WACS Superintendent David Davison outlined several avenues the district will use to disseminate information regarding the capital improvement project. A public vote on the venture will take place on Dec. 12.

A newsletter containing three pages of information on the project will be sent out in the coming week, Davison said. Also, an informational flyer will be available at the dinner theater on Nov. 15 and 16 and the school concerts on Dec. 5. Also on Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m., Davison will be at Patterson Library to answer questions regarding the project.

Davison also said information about the capital project will be posted on the district website and Facebook, and the district plans to set up a forum where residents can ask have questions answered on Facebook. Additionally, WACS will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in the large group instructional room (LGI).

At the Sept. 23 meeting of the board of education, Matt Sikora of Turner construction and Scott Jones of the architectural firm Gordon W. Jones Associates, presented recommendations stemming from a 12-month study of the district’s buildings and grounds.

Jones told the board that $1.5 million of the project would be spent on “code-required items” that are mandatory, such as ADA accessibility, ventilation, life safety, health code requirements, and doors and hardware.

The remaining $3.7 million will be spent of “priority one” items which include roofing, heat pump replacement and repair, exhaust fans, windows in the elementary school and upgrading the PA system.

“All this can be done with no additional cost to taxpayers, “Jones said. This is possible because 80 percent of the cost will be covered by project aid. The remaining 20% can be covered by the capital project reserve fund, he said.

In a related matter, General Maintenance Mechanic, Joshua Brumagin, reported to board members about the progress of the emergency capital project to replace the roof in the elementary wing and the gymnasium floor.

Demolition and replacement is already underway. “The gym floor will be put back into service by December 2,” Brumagin said.

Work to remove the old roof has also begun, Brumagin said. In April, it had been discovered that a leak in the roof severely damaged the gymnasium floor. Further examination led to the conclusion that the rubber mat had bubbled up in many places and needed to be replaced. The job was declared an emergency capital project.

In other business, Davison told board members that the state is coming out with new regulations for APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review). The most significant change is that there will be no deadline; therefore, there will be no withholding of state aid because a deadline has not been met, he said.

Davison also told the board that the SAT and ACT are now considered third party vendors. Cyber security risks from third-party vendors have become an issue in many districts, Davison noted.

Elementary Principal Dr. Mary Rocky reported that the students’ Halloween Parade was very well received, and several classes visited the hospital and Absolut Care.

In his first official report, secondary principal, Corey Markham, said the parent-teacher conferences held the week of Oct. 21 were a success. He also told board members that Senior Brad Belmondo has been chosen for the National Honors Choir. Belmondo is one of 18 chosen from New York State for this honor.