DELHI – In October, the Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego Board of Cooperative Educational Services (DCMO BOCES) Board of Education reviewed a proposed capital building project plan. DCMO BOCES is one of New York State’s regional BOCES, and serves the Delaware Academy Central School District at Delhi. The plan calls for a $44.4 million renovation of the Robert W. Harrold Campus (Sidney Center, NY) and the Alan D. Pole Campus (Norwich, NY), and the purchase of the former Masonville Elementary School (Masonville, NY) to house programs for students. Both the renovations and the purchase of the Masonville School site are subject to voter approval. Students at Delaware Academy are primarily served by the Harrold Campus in Sidney Center.
The plan was developed over the last year by a team that included architects, construction managers, municipal advisors, local school superintendents, DCMO BOCES Board of Education members, administrators, and staff. In developing the details of the project, the group was guided by the “core four” principles of providing a safe and secure space for students; building flexibility in the facilities; expanding opportunities for students; and providing responsible stewardship of the resources.
Under the proposed plan, main entrances at both campuses will be remodeled to improve safety and security, and learning spaces will be renovated to provide modern, flexible places to learn: updating classrooms and creating spaces that can serve multiple purposes, building specialty learning hubs for specific purposes, remodeling shop spaces to allow for new and growing programs, and creating professional, large-group meeting spaces.
"This proposed capital construction project is a critical investment in the future of our students and the communities we serve,” according to Michael Rullo, DCMO BOCES District Superintendent. “By addressing infrastructure needs and enhancing the spaces where our students learn and our staff work, we are not only improving safety and functionality but also expanding opportunities for high-quality, hands-on learning.”
Project highlights include a new entrance to the building housing Career and Technical Education shops and classrooms at the Harrold Campus to provide a single point of access, and a new hallway to facilitate movement in the building without having to go through other shops. At the Pole Campus, the heating system will be converted to a propane-based system, replacing a fuel oil heating system. This will include removing an underground tank and converting existing boilers to propane.
With buildings that are over 50 years old, with most recent additions nearing 20 years old, there are a number of structural items that need to be repaired or replaced, including roofs and skylights, shop floor drainage systems, exterior walls, windows, and doors, and driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks.
DCMO BOCES is also proposing to acquire the Masonville School building from the Sidney Central School District to house programs for students. The building was originally designed as a school, and has been maintained and improved by the Sidney school district. The site includes ample outdoor space, and is on a route many buses already take to the Harrold Campus.
The last DCMO BOCES capital project was completed nearly 20 years ago, and the final payments on the debt for that project will be made in August 2027. The proposed capital project has been planned so that new debt payments will occur after the last payment is made on the 2008-09 project. For Delaware Academy, the district’s current payments for the capital project bond that is about to be retired are $248,445, with $128,836 of that coming from state aid, for a net amount of $119,610. Payments from Delaware Academy for the new bond are estimated to be $246,540, of which $117,456 will come from state aid, for a net amount of $129,084. In short, Delaware Academy’s expected payments for the new capital project bond will go down slightly ($9474).
"We’ve worked diligently to ensure this plan is fiscally responsible, maximizing state aid and minimizing local impact, so that we can deliver long-term value while meeting the evolving educational demands of today and tomorrow," Rullo said.
Over the next few months, Rullo and other administrators will be giving informational presentations to local school district boards of education and other community venues. His presentation to the Delaware Academy CSD at Delhi Board of Education took place on October 27, receiving a largely positive reception from the board. "Delaware Academy CSD at Delhi continues to benefit from the strong programs and partnerships offered through DCMO BOCES, and conversations around the new capital project highlight how improved learning environments can directly impact students,” according to Carey Shultz, Deputy Superintendent at Delaware Academy. “For our district, enhanced BOCES facilities mean broader opportunities in career and technical education, increased safety, special education, and hands-on learning experiences that individual districts cannot provide alone. Ensuring that students have access to high-quality, well-designed spaces remains an important part of preparing them for success beyond graduation.”
The capital building project will be presented to voters for approval on February 3, 2026. There will be two questions on the ballot: 1) Can DCMO BOCES carry out a $44.4 million capital project to renovate, upgrade and add to its facilities; and 2) Can DCMO BOCES purchase the Masonville School from Sidney CSD and renovate it for use for BOCES programming. All residents of the sixteen school districts in the DCMO BOCES region who are age 18 or older are eligible to vote, as long as they have lived in the region during the previous 30 days. Voting sites will be located at all sixteen school districts and both DCMO BOCES campuses. The referendum is not required to pass in each individual district, just region-wide.
Delaware Academy Central School District at Delhi operates 3 schools at their Delhi campus. For more information about the district, visit www.delhischools.org. DCMO BOCES is a regional provider of educational services to students and schools, and operates school campuses in Sidney Center and Norwich. For more information on the capital building project, visit the DCMO BOCES website at dcmoboces.com/page/capital-building-project. To find out more about DCMO BOCES services and programs, visit www.dcmoboces.com.
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