A $70 million dollar city school district building project is up for a vote today in Schenectady: The project is phase one of a renovation initiative to fine tune the district with a number of k-through-5 grammar schools, a trio of middle schools and two high schools. Voters will have to approve each phase - this first one entails the district building an addition at Howe Elementary School, replacing Van Corlaer Elementary School stage with classrooms and closing Elmer Elementary. And involving grades 6 through 8 - Mont Pleasant would be renovated, Oneida reopened and Central park restored to "middle school" status. No word on what future phases might cost. District officials say school tax bills are not likely increase by much, if at all, under Phase One. State Aid will pay for 95 percent of the work.
Seven polling places are open noon to 9 p.m.
