Successful Administration of School Construction Projects

A powerful professional workshop and unique learning opportunity that guides participants through the knowledge, strategies, and attitude needed for successful school construction projects.

Schedule, Registration, and Payment [HERE]
One 3-hour session via ZOOM

Notes
1: Handouts will include sample project timeline, and presentation.
2. Discounts available for more than one attendee from the same district.

Audience
This online workshop is designed for Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, School Business Officials, Directors of Facilities, Building Administrators, and other district leaders involved in planning and overseeing capital projects. Districts are encouraged to have their leadership teams participate together to strengthen coordination across departments.

Why This Workshop is Important

Capital projects represent some of the largest financial and operational commitments a school district will undertake. With New York State regulations, community expectations, and fiscal constraints such as the property tax cap all in play, careful planning and management are essential. This workshop will help administrators understand each phase of a capital project—from concept development through project closeout and State Building Aid reimbursement. Participants will gain insight into compliance requirements, communication strategies, and best practices to ensure successful outcomes for their district and community. Interactive discussions and activities will reinforce key concepts and prepare participants to apply what they learn directly to their district’s projects.

Workshop Topics
> Pre-Referendum Planning & Foundational Requirements and Regulatory Framework (5-year facility plan, SEQR, SHPO, NYSED Office of Facilities Planning)
> Project Authorization and Governance (Voter approval, BOE responsibilities, Use of Capital Reserves, Emergency Project Rules)
> Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Aid Maximization (Building Aid, Capital Projects Accounting, Debt, Cashflow, Navigating the Tax Cap)
> Design, Construction, and Procurement (A&E, Design and Submission, Change Orders, Contract Management)
> Monitoring, Reporting, and Closeout (FCR, Post-Occupancy Considerations)
> Educational and Community Impact (Enrollment projections, Programmatic considerations, community communication)

Faculty
Kathryn Blackman, CPA, SDBL
Kathryn (Kathy) Blackman brings four decades of experience in New York State public school finance, with a deep specialization in planning, managing, and monitoring capital projects. She currently consults with school districts across New York State, supporting business offices and leadership teams in navigating the financial, operational, and regulatory dimensions of capital work.
From 2013 to 2024, Kathy served as Controller of the Broome-Tioga BOCES Central Business Office, overseeing the finances of 15 component districts. In this role, she supported hundreds of capital projects from inception through closeout, giving her a broad view of how districts structure, track, and troubleshoot project activity.
Prior to her BOCES tenure, Kathy spent 19 years as the School Business Official for Chenango Forks Central School District. She acted as the district’s lead liaison for more than $30 million in capital improvements and directly supervised the facilities department, gaining firsthand insight into the operational realities of project implementation. Earlier in her career, she worked for ten years as an external auditor, adding a strong compliance and internal control lens to her work.
Kathy has also served as an Adjunct Professor in the Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership program at SUNY Binghamton, and she regularly presents fiscal and operational topics to Boards of Education, administrators, and business office professionals. Her combined experience in auditing, district leadership, and regional financial oversight gives her a unique, comprehensive perspective on how capital projects succeed—and where they often encounter challenges.

Workshop Administrator
James M. Merrins, Ed.D., Executive Program Administrator
Dr. Merrins is Executive Program Administrator of the Educational Leadership Institute. He administers statewide numerous fiscal workshops for superintendents and senior school administrators, including Fiscal Navigation for Superintendents, Claims Auditor Training, and the Administration of School Construction Project. Jim has more than fourty years experience in school administration, including sixteen years as a Superintendent of Schools, in Fredonia and Honeoye, New York. Dr. Merrins is NYS certified as a School Business Administrator. During his career as superintendent he has administered eight school construction projects. Dr. Merrins taught school finance and school law at SUNY colleges for several years.

Costs
The cost of the workshop is $275 for the first participant, plus $195 for the second participant, plus $125 for the third participant, plus $75 for the fourth and subsequent participants from the same school district.

Materials
Each workshop participant will receive workshop-related materials.

Hosted and administered by ESS
James M. Merrins, Ed.D., Executive Program Administrator

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Contact James Merrins, Ed.D.
Comments, corrections, source documents, and questions welcome
Educational Support Services
42 Rosalyn Court, Fredonia, New York 14063
(716) 672-5473, FAX (716) 672-5472, jmerrins@cecomet.net