While the Jordan-Elbridge Central School District can now move forward in its plans to give each of its buildings a facelift, upgrades to athletic fields will have to wait for another time.

During an all-day vote Thursday, taxpayers approved $21.9 million in school renovations and infrastructure upgrades with extensive work slated for the high school by a vote of 720-583.

However, they defeated two propositions dealing with athletics and the installation of an all-weather field, 679-619 and 767-530, respectively.

If all three propositions passed, the capital project would have cost $27 million.

"We are certainly thankful we have a positive outcome. We are ecstatic and very thankful to everyone who came out to vote," assistant superintendent for business and finance Bill Hamilton said. "We had a large amount of people come out."

Voters authorized the district to add spaces for a new technology and engineering curriculum as a way to introduce high school underclassmen interested in manufacturing and technology before they are eligible for the Cayuga-Onondaga Board of Cooperative Educational Services as upperclassmen.

Spaces will be added at the high school for special education and physical fitness. The auditorium, kitchen and serving area, science labs and art rooms will be upgraded and administrative offices will be relocated to the front of the building. A new concession stand, restrooms and locker rooms will also be constructed.

Also in the project is the removal of the existing above-ground wastewater treatment plant and installing a septic system as well as moving the storm water basin about 500 feet east of the campus.

The second proposition, not to exceed $3,387,000, was for athletic and marching band improvements. The district proposed that all varsity outdoor fields become consolidated at the high school whereas currently lacrosse, soccer, softball and baseball are played on either the Jordan or Elbridge campuses, where there are no bathrooms or concession facilities.

The third proposition called for the installation of an all-weather field at a cost of no more than $1,760,000. While initially the district intended on building a new field for the all-weather surface, the changing economic climate changed those plans. Instead, the surface would have been installed on an existing field.

Hamilton attributed to the defeats to the state of the economy.

"I think times are difficult," he said. "But those votes were reasonably close and I think people gave it a good consideration. We certainly appreciate that."