SKANEATELES - In a close vote Skaneateles Central School District residents narrowly passed Project 2007.

By a margin of just five votes, the $9.9 million renovation project was approved Tuesday night, 438-433.

“It was a really close vote,” said Phil D'Angelo, Jr., Skaneateles Central School District superintendent. “But it passed.”

The project calls for district-wide renovations and updates to the grounds and buildings.

One of the more controversial aspects of the project is the installation of artificial turf at Arthur Hyatt Stadium.

At one point, during school board meetings, D'Angelo along with the rest of the board considered presenting the artificial turf as a separate proposal on the ballot, but ultimately decided that it was more important to present one proposition.

“The board felt one proposition would be better,” D'Angelo said. “Since it reinforced the fact that all the work is important and will benefit all of our students.”

But D'Angelo believes that this may have contributed to the narrow margin of approval.

“I think it was the artificial turf,” D'Angelo said. “I think people are still thinking in terms of the old-time Astroturf and injuries and things like that.”

But D'Angelo pointed out that in the long run the artificial turf was going to be a cost-effective investment that will allow the district to adhere to its sports schedule even in the inclement weather and will also allow the district to host sectional games. $1,384,000 has been budgeted for the inclusion of artificial turf as well as other athletic field renovations and the expansion of the tennis courts the district uses at Austin Park.

The bulk of the expense of the project will come from renovations to State Street Elementary School and the conversion of the former district bus garage into temporary classroom space and ultimately new district offices. $4,007,410 is earmarked for State Street with $1,219,225 set aside for the bus garage project.

D'Angelo said this aspect of the project has the most priority. State Street Elementary dates back to 1953.

In the past 50 years, the school has become too small to serve its students well, with small classrooms that will be expanded to allow for a larger learning environment.

That will also keep class sizes small so students will be able to receive more attention from their teachers. The building also contains asbestos tiles that will be removed.

“I think people really came out in support of State Street and the district offices,” D'Angelo said. “I think this just shows how much the people of this community support our students.”

The $9.9 million price tag also has $2,979,990 factored in for architectural and engineering and other contingency costs. This includes hazardous waste (asbestos) removal, administrative and inspection costs.

Approximately six percent of the project's cost will be deferred through EXCEL (Expanding Our Children's Learning and Education Aid.

This state aid is $557,279; D'Angelo said that the availability of this aid was an important deciding factor in the school board and district's decision to make these renovations a priority.

It is expected that 92.5 percent of the project will be state aidable, but this number may actually go as high as 95 percent.

This building aid, estimated at $5,541,103, along with the EXCEL aid, would leave taxpayers with 37.1 percent of the cost of the project, approximately $3,876,618.