Overview

TONA 2020 - Sale of Riverview Elementary

Update Letter from Dr. Oldenburg: March 28, 2024

March 28, 2024

Dear Warrior Parent/Guardian:

Please enjoy the upcoming Spring Break with your family. Upon our return to school on Tuesday, April 9, we will be entering the final stretch of the academic year. With each coming week we will begin to increase in celebrations, assessments, and recognitions of student accomplishment.

Additionally, we will be finalizing our budget planning for the 2024-2025 school year. We are also preparing for the potential sale of Riverview Elementary School. The sale of Riverview Elementary School is the final phase of the TONA2020: Elementary School Consolidation and Capital Project. The new Tonawanda Elementary School has been enjoyed and celebrated by our students, families, and staff during its inaugural year.

Please see the following facts and information:

  • We are in the final stages of creating the district budget for 2024-2025. This balanced budget includes an increase in taxes that will remain UNDER the NYS tax cap.

  • Included in the final district budget will be the next debt service payment for the new Tonawanda Elementary School. This is a required payment of debt on the capital project and must be included in our plan for expenditures in the 2024-2025 school year.

  • The annual public vote for the district budget will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in the High School Wellness Gymnasium from 11am – 8pm.

  • The sale of Riverview School will appear on the ballot for public vote. The Board of Education has approved the sale of Riverview Elementary School to David Sutton for $650,000; subject to approval by the public and satisfaction of other contingencies.

    • David Sutton, from Sutton Architecture, PLLC., plans to convert the school to a two-

      story apartment complex and surrounding area to single-family homes and a new

      apartment building.

    • These properties will be added to the tax base for the City of Tonawanda.

    • Our district owes nearly $150,000 in debt on Riverview Elementary School from

      previous capital projects. Along with required associated fees, we expect to realize

      approximately $400,000 in proceeds from this sale.

    • The proceeds of this sale will be added to our capital reserve account to plan and prepare

      for future capital work at the Middle/High School building. This will reduce future tax

      impacts on our community.

    • Should this offer for purchase of Riverview Elementary School not be approved by the

      voters on May 21, 2024, the district would be responsible for the carrying costs (liability,

      insurance, maintenance, energy, etc.), as high as $4,000 per month, until the building is

      eventually approved for sale.

    • Our district is proud to have negotiated the potential sale of Riverview Elementary

      School to a developer that is committed to building homes and apartment complexes on

      this property that will immediately add to the tax base for the City of Tonawanda.

    • The approved sale of Riverview Elementary School will further our plans for a needed

      capital project at the Middle/High School building in the future that will be tax-neutral

      for our taxpayers.

    • Visit our website to learn more about our budget process and the sale of Riverview Elementary School.

Please note the following announcements below:

  • Our district is in need of substitute employees in the positions of teacher, teacher assistant, teacher

    aide, clerk, cleaner, and custodian. We are offering building-based positions (Monday –

    Friday daily assignment) and half-day shifts (AM or PM or hourly/flexible shifts). Please contact Michelle

    Moore at mmoore@tonacsd.org or 716-694-7784.

I wish each of you a great beginning to the spring season and an exciting return from Spring Break. Go Warriors!

Sincerely,

Timothy A. Oldenburg, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools