Utica board hires SED consultant for superintendent search, hears $65M first-phase capital plan

The Utica City School District Board of Education on Monday approved hiring Dr. Patricia Kilburn, a district superintendent who represents the New York State Education Department in the supervisory district, to serve as the board's superintendent-search consultant.

Dr. Kilburn told the board she recommends a confidential search to attract experienced superintendent candidates and protect finalists from counteroffers, and she outlined a sample timeline of outreach, surveys, vetting and multiple interview nights beginning with vacancy advertising in April and candidate materials available in late May. "I do recommend that you go with a confidential search," Kilburn said, adding that confidential searches often secure higher-quality pools of candidates already serving as superintendents elsewhere.

The board also heard a detailed presentation on a proposed, multi-phase capital program from La Bella Associates and Fiscal Advisers. Fiscal adviser Mike Fiscay told the board the district's high building-aid ratio makes it efficient to borrow now and use state reimbursement: "If it's aid eligible, the state is reimbursing you 98¢ on the dollar," he said. Fiscay recommended phasing projects so total debt service remains near current levels while allowing work to proceed on safety, ADA, HVAC, plumbing, window/door replacements and other infrastructure upgrades.

Under the plan presented, the district would seek voter approval in May for a Phase 1 referendum of $65,000,000 and establish a $15,000,000 capital reserve to offset local share for later phases. Subsequent phases discussed and modeled during the presentation included additional borrowings when debt-service drop-offs and SED maximum-cost-allowance calculations permit.

Superintendent's report highlights included a proposed operating budget that the administration said would rise about 9.5% while holding the local property-tax levy flat; the superintendent said the district would not raise the levy limit voters see. The administration also described plans to maintain counseling services by moving them into a BOCES contract line (estimated at roughly 89% aid on those services), to invest $5,000,000 in transportation to expand runs next year, and to fund $3,000,000 for outdoor playgrounds and learning spaces (with some playground work shifted into the $65 million capital project).

The board took several additional formal actions: it approved a resolution to hire Kimberly Vile as assistant superintendent for business, finance and operations (start date May 1); it approved a settlement agreement with National Building Restoration Corporation; and it considered a series of student-discipline appeals under Education Law §3214, modifying or upholding penalties in individual cases and authorizing a last-chance agreement in one bus-discipline matter.

The board approved Dr. Kilburn's engagement by voice vote after a motion and second. Kilburn asked the board to name a designee for interim approvals of advertisements and materials so the search consultant can proceed without requiring special meetings.

What happens next: the board was told the administration will prepare the bond resolution and timeline items for the March board meeting to establish a vote date consistent with the May budget vote; if voters approve the Phase 1 referendum, the district would start design work and submit required SED paperwork to qualify for building aid and to secure early-aid starts.

Votes at a glance: the board approved (by voice vote) the engagement of Dr. Patricia Kilburn as search consultant; approved hiring Kimberly Vile as assistant superintendent for business, finance and operations (effective May 1); approved a settlement agreement with National Building Restoration Corporation (one abstention recorded); and resolved multiple student-discipline appeals (some penalties modified, some upheld, one bus-discipline held in abeyance with a last-chance agreement). The transcript records voice votes but does not provide a roll-call tally for these items.

Sources: board meeting transcript and on-the-record presentations by Dr. Patricia Kilburn (SED district superintendent) and Mike Fiscay (Fiscal Advisers). The board meeting also referenced Education Law §3214 for student-discipline appeal procedure.

The meeting adjourned after routine approvals of minutes and brief department updates.