Promise Project 2027 Vote
On Tuesday, Dec. 10th, 2024, West Irondequoit CSD residents are being asked to participate in a Capital Project Vote. The project would have NO TAX IMPACT because the district would use a combination of existing capital reserves and state aid to fund it, along with $1 million from the NYS Assembly. There are two propositions, which are connected, to consider:
- Proposition 1: Renovating the Pinegrove Learning Center (Pre-K/UPK classrooms & more)
- Proposition 2: Multi-Purpose Turf Athletic Fields (IHS/Dake) and a JV baseball field (Iroquois MS)
These propositions are connected, meaning the enactment of Proposition 2 is dependent on the passage of Proposition 1. If Proposition 1 does not pass, Proposition 2 will not be enacted regardless of vote results. Please note: Prop 1 could go through if it passes and Prop 2 fails.
We anticipate that most construction work would take place during summer 2026 and summer 2027, with substantial completion by Fall 2027. We invite you to explore more on this page to learn about the project, including renovation and building breakdowns, pictures, graphics and more.
Questions? Join us at a Public Information Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at District Office. Can’t wait until then, email here. We are excited about what we feel would be important enhancements to further academic and athletic excellence for our students.
Q: Why have a Capital Project vote instead of addressing these improvements in the annual District budget?
A: A Capital Project is actually more fiscally responsible because the state reimburses a vast majority of the cost, and the expense is spread out over a longer period of time. If a project like this was part of the annual district budget, we would not receive any state reimbursement, resulting in an increase in your tax bill.
Proposition 1 - Pinegrove Facility ($6,000,000)
Pinegrove Learning Center: This former school and senior center that the district bought in 2022 from the town. The 12,700-square foot building was built in 1954. This $6 million Capital Project would allow the district to expand its Pre-Kindergarten/Universal Pre-K program along with other educational enhancements. On Sept. 10, 2024, the NYS State Assembly provided the district with $1 million fund this project, which entails:
- Renovate and reconfigure 3 Pre-K/UPK classrooms
-
Renovate district-wide STEAM Lab (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) including Helmer Nature Center rooms
- Renovate multi-purpose room
-
Renovate and reconfigure supporting spaces
Above: Students in our only in-district Pre-K/UPK classroom this school year at Briarwood elementary. The Pinegrove Learning Center is located at 154 Pinegrove Ave., in front of Helmer Nature Center. Renovated spaces would include:
- Secure entrance and vestibule
- Administration and Nurses Office
- Restrooms, staff breakroom & custodial room
- Mechanical Room & Storage Areas
-
New age-appropriate playground
-
Corridor improvements (ceilings, lighting, flooring, walls)
-
Information Technology and fire system/alarm upgrades
-
Mechanical system and stormwater management upgrades
-
Reconfigure Parent/Guardian Drop-Off Loop
Architect's render of STEAM classroom at Pinegrove.
Anticipated State Aid would follow after the project is complete. No annual tax increase.
DID YOU KNOW?
We currently have one in-district Pre-K/UPK class at Briarwood elementary and partner with Sunshine Daycare (two classes) and Forever Friends (one class/one hybrid class). Even with four Pre-K/UPK classes, we were only able to accommodate just over half of the families who applied for this school year, leaving others on a wait list.
Proposition 2 - Athletic Fields ($18,640,000)
IHS Multi-Purpose Complex (turf)
Athletic complex improvements on our main campus – Irondequoit HS and Dake Jr. HS – for practices, games and physical education, along with community use.
-
Multi-Sport Synthetic Turf Field for baseball and softball
-
Can be used as a practice field for field hockey, flag football, lacrosse and soccer, etc.
-
Dugouts & new scoreboards
-
Field lighting & bleachers
-
Additional parking area, sidewalks and walkways
-
Multi-Purpose Grass Field (List Avenue side) for:
-
Shotput/Discus (Track and Field)
-
Secondary practice area for multiple sports
Iroquois Middle School Complex (grass field)
Athletic complex improvements at Iroquois, 150 Colebrook Dr., for practices, games and physical education, along with community use.
-
Reconfigured Grass Field for Multi-Sport Use
-
New baseball diamond (junior-varsity field)
-
Baseball field includes backstop & fencing
-
Outfield area usable for other sports such as soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, etc.
IROQUOIS: Aerial picture high above Iroquois Middle School with architect render of new baseball diamond.
IHS: Picture from a drone of where a new baseball/softball synthetic turf complex at IHS would be built.
Why turf for baseball/softball?
Along with being more cost-effective over the long term because they require far less maintenance - grass fields must be mowed and lined - turf fields are not as weather dependent. Current grass/dirt fields for these sports at Irondequoit High School do not stand up to regular use in rainy and muddy spring conditions. This often results in canceled practices, rescheduled games and even IHS teams playing “home” games on turf fields elsewhere. Baseball and softball have been canceled on sunny days because fields were saturated from rain the previous few days. Drainage and drying time on synthetic turf is also significantly better.
Not being able to practice or play regularly on turf also puts Irondequoit teams at a competitive disadvantage. Opponents are more familiar playing on turf. Thirteen of 20 schools in the Monroe County Public Schools Athletic Conference already have turf for baseball and/or softball or have been approved to build them.
What is the lifespan for synthetic turf?
Fields proposed for this Capital Project have an anticipated lifespan of about 15 years. Replacing the field surface and infill 15 years from now would be eligible for state building aid as part of a Capital Project. That would pay for most of the cost without the need to divert other funds. By way of reference, the current IHS Stadium turf field was installed in 2005 and replaced in 2016.
Proposition 2 (athletic fields) is contingent on Proposition 1 (Pinegrove). If Prop 1 does not pass, Prop 2 will not be enacted regardless of the outcome of the vote.
Questions & Answers
Why is the District proposing a Capital Project vote now?
For Proposition 1, our community needs more Pre-K/UPK spots for their children. The demand exceeds the amount of classroom space we currently have. We acquired the Pinegrove facility in 2022 with the promise to add Pre-K/UPK classrooms in this 70-year-old building. We also plan to renovate the space currently being used by Helmer Nature Center, which hosts dozens of student field trips and community-wide events. As for Proposition 2 – the multi-use turf baseball/softball fields and new grass JV baseball field at Iroquois MS – it became clear this year during Capital Project Master Planning that we need better facilities to improve access and usability for our teams but also for community use.
Will this project affect my taxes?
No. Approval of these projects would not raise the local tax levy because the District will use its own existing Capital Reserve Funds and receive state aid.
Are the two propositions connected?
Yes. In order for Proposition 2 (turf athletic fields) to be considered, Proposition 1 (Pre-K/UPK classrooms) must be approved. Please note: Prop 1 could go through if it passes and Prop 2 fails.
Isn’t State Aid just my tax dollars, though?
Yes, but the state legislature has given all districts a chance to use already allocated tax dollars through school building improvements and renovations. This is an opportunity to keep those tax dollars in West Irondequoit, rather than the money going to another district.
How important is Pre-K/UPK learning to a child’s development?
Research shows that Pre-Kindergarten/UPK helps students develop essential social and emotional skills, such as sharing and cooperation, which are foundational for later learning. It also promotes early literacy and numeracy, giving children a head start in mastering basic concepts, and fosters curiosity and creativity.
Could new athletic fields be used by the public?
Yes. Just like our gymnasiums and existing multi-use turf stadium at IHS, the proposed baseball/softball complex would be available for community use and use by other sports.
What are the benefits of multi-purpose synthetic turf baseball/softball fields?
They are numerous. The following were identified after consultation with our athletic directors, architects and consultants:
-
Permanent markings/lines for a variety of sports make these fields ready-for-play without preparational adjustment. Our current grass/dirt fields for baseball and softball require the most upkeep of any we have. New turf fields would allow our grounds crew to focus on other maintenance needs across our district.
-
Less dependence on good weather, allowing for an extended duration of seasonal use. More games and more practices can be held on synthetic turf fields, and it can be used extensively, hour after hour, day after day, without the concern of mud developing or grass thinning from overuse, particularly in the spring and late fall.
-
Safe for players because the surface is consistent and not subject to uneven wear.
-
Available for increased off-season usage by students and the community.
-
Better and more cost-effective preparation for our student-athletes to compete throughout the season on a playing surface that is on par with other area schools. Many IHS teams rent space at local indoor facilities to practice.
Are synthetic turf fields safe?
The safety of our students is always our No. 1 priority. Extensive research conducted over decades on the safety of synthetic turf materials concludes that the use of synthetic turf poses no known health risk to children or adults. Click this link to read more about the use of recycled tire rubber as infill materials. Research was done by the CDC and Prevention/Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Our district will continue to monitor the latest research regarding turf.
Is field lighting included for the turf fields?
Yes, both fields would have lights. They’d be designed to minimize glare and impact into the surrounding neighborhood. Light spillover was much more difficult to manage prior to LED lighting, which is now available.
Will there be protective netting around the fields?
Yes, plans include special sports netting to make sure foul balls do not hit spectators, parked vehicles or structures near the fields.
What are the environmental benefits of synthetic turf fields?
The environmental benefits of synthetic turf include a reduction in surface runoff, which could carry sediment and fertilizer residue. Moreover, the required regular mowing, irrigation, and mechanical reconditioning of grass uses a great deal more water and fossil fuels and generates more carbon emissions than would the occasional re-conditioning efforts of a turf field. The synthetic turf infill is prevented from reaching the stormwater runoff systems by the turf mesh and underlying stone and construction fabric. The infill does require the occasional refresh as it gradually compacts, and it can be reclaimed and reused or collected and used for fuel. There is no situation that would allow infill migration into stormwater systems that lead to the lake. Nor does the inert infill create any chemical leachate, as confirmed by extensive EPA review.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ON TURF FIELDS
What type of field is being added behind Iroquois MS?
A new grass field, designated predominantly for junior-varsity baseball, is proposed. This field would be necessary because the proposed new synthetic turf baseball/softball complex at IHS would eliminate the JV baseball diamond.
When will the work happen? When would the new facilities be ready?
Following the design phase and NYS Education Dept. review period, we anticipate that most construction work would take place during summer 2026 and summer 2027, with completion anticipated by Fall 2027.
How do you get more information on the Project?
The district will host a Public Information Meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at District Office. Please also visit the Promise Project Vote page on the district website at westirondequoit.org with links to more information, including video about it.
Expect our Promise Project Vote newsletter in your mailboxes by mid-November. Click the image above to view it.
Voter Qualifications
You are eligible to vote if you are a U.S. citizen age 18 or older and a resident of the district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.
Absentee & Early Mail Ballots
Voters unable to vote in person may vote by Absentee or Early Mail Ballot. Residents may request an application for an Absentee or Early Mail Ballot in-person from the District Clerk, Jenna Lustig, at District Office, 321 List Ave., weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Submitting Absentee/Early Mail Ballots
Applications for each are available at westirondequoit.org. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least 7 days before the vote (Dec. 3), if the ballot is to be mailed, or by 4 p.m. the day prior to the vote (Dec. 9), if the ballot is to obtained in-person. Absentee/Early Mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk by 5 p.m. December 10, 2024.
Absentee and Early Vote by Mail Ballot Process
1. Obtain an application and submit it to the District Clerk. An application can be obtained by:
- Call 585-336-2983 or e-mail to request that one be mailed to you.
- Pick up at the District Office, 321 List Avenue.
- Download from this website (links below).
2. Upon approval of the application, you will receive a ballot. Please complete the ballot and return it within the noted timeline:
- November 21 Ballots can be mailed after receipt and approval of application.
- December 3 Application due in District Office if the ballot is to be mailed.
- December 3 Last day for District Clerk to mail ballot to voter.
- December 9 Application due if ballot is to be picked up.
- December 10 If application is on file, ballot is due by 5:00 p.m. in the Office of the District Clerk.
PLEASE NOTE:
- Ballots cannot be accepted without a valid application.
- The ballot envelope must be separate from the application.
- No applications will be processed if received after December 9.
Contact Jenna Lustig, District Clerk, at 336-2983 or e-mail with questions.
From the Superintendent and Board of Education President
Dear residents,
The heart of the Promise Project Vote on Dec. 10, 2024 is more opportunity to learn and play for our children and community. We are excited to share the two propositions:
-
Proposition 1: Renovating the Pinegrove Learning Center
-
Proposition 2: Multi-Purpose Turf Fields and a JV baseball field
Thanks to our Board of Education's smart fiscal planning and our district’s responsible spending, both propositions have no impact on our tax levy.
We know the critical value of early learning, so in May 2022 – with voter approval – we bought back 154 Pinegrove Ave. with the promise of expanding our Pre-Kindergarten program and renovating space for Helmer Nature Center and Community Education. Two years later, it is time for our community to make good on the promise of this project.
Contingent on the passing of Proposition 1, Proposition 2 is building a state-of-the-art turf complex for baseball and softball at our main campus (IHS/Dake) and a new grass baseball diamond behind Iroquois. The turf complex will revolutionize our campus and almost eliminate weather as a factor for athletics, offering more space to promote outdoor learning and fitness. It provides additional opportunities for community use, such as youth sports and adult recreation, to promote the well-being of our entire community. The potential is truly exciting
Our district and community remain destinations for countless families because of our people, amenities and schools. We can all be very proud of this community, and your involvement only strengthens that pride.
Sincerely,
Aaron R. Johnson, Ed. D
Superintendent of Schools
Matthew Sullivan
President, Board of Education