Hudson City School District is striving to improve the District’s infrastructure, with thoughtfully planned building modifications to enhance safety systems, modernize the District’s energy efficiency, and replace deteriorated and outdated components. Constant maintenance of multiple older buildings is an expensive undertaking, and with rising costs, investing in District improvements now will serve the needs of our students and community for much longer.
On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, residents of the Hudson City School District will vote on a Capital Project referendum as well as an Energy Performance Contract resolution, which allows for the District to get an additional 10% in State Aid Funding for this project. Neither project will increase local school taxes.
About the 2025 Capital Project
The $8.345 million project provides improvements at every school building.
Some examples of the scope of this proposed project are:
District-Wide
- Repairing sidewalks
- Renovating bathrooms (6 at MCSES and 6 at HSHS)
- Improving emergency lighting
Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School
- Reconstruct tennis courts
- Replacing 21 exterior doors, along with renovating hardware for interior fire doors
- Reshingling two roofs and other small roof and attic repairs
- Installing three new steam boilers
- Add an emergency building generator
- Install a diesel/gasoline tank fueling system, with concrete supports
- Upgrade the existing salt shed
Hudson Junior and Senior High Schools
- Repair the exterior wall near the cooling equipment
- Replace selected exterior and interior doors
- Infill of glass for interior walls and firewalls
- Gymnasium acoustic panel replacements
- Replace the old carpet in the original building
- Making multiple improvements to the swimming pool room and systems
- Replace auditorium seating
- Replacing classroom folding room partitions
- Building a 24′ x 40′ storage building for athletics/ground equipment
About the Energy Performance Contract (EPC)
What is Energy Performance Contracting?
Energy Performance Contracting is an agreement that allows school districts to take budgeted utility and operational costs and reallocate them into energy-saving capital Improvements without the need for Increased Taxes. In other words, the capital improvements and energy efficiency measures will save the District money on energy and operational costs. Over time, these savings in turn pay for the cost of the project. The District is partnering with Energia and Johnson Controls for this project.
The Energy Performance Contract will not exceed $11 million. With an estimated annual savings of $424,498, the project is expected to pay for itself in 18 years. New York State will reimburse the district for 58.5% of the cost, and the proposition on ballots this year will ask residents for permission to receive an additional 10% state aid, again at no cost to the local taxpayers.
The scope of this project includes:
District-Wide
- Solar PV Power Purchase Agreement Buyout
- Leverage Heavily Discounted Buyout Clause to Convert System to District Ownership.
- District to Receive 100% Credit for Renewable Energy Produced.
- Fund Capital Intensive Boiler Upgrades.
- LED Lighting Upgrades
- Building Envelope Improvement
- Steam Trap Replacement
- Computer Power Management
Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School
- Rooftop Solar Panel Installation
- Domestic Hot Water Replacement
Hudson Junior and Senior High Schools
- Installing and Converting Steam to Hot Water Boilers
- Install High-Efficiency Hot Water Condensing Boiler Plant
- Install 125kW Cogeneration Unit to Offset Electricity Use & Offset Heating Load of Building, Pool, and DHW
- RTU Replacement
Important Dates
Save the Date: 2025-26 Budget, Capital Project, and EPC Important Dates
Voting Information
The annual School Budget Vote & Board of Education Election is on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Residents can vote by absentee ballot or in person at their designated polling location. Visit the Voting Information page to learn about polling locations, voter registration, and absentee ballots.