By JIMMY LAWTON

POTSDAM – Voters overwhelmingly passed a referendum to repurpose the former Building Blocks Daycare center at Potsdam Central School Tuesday.

The vote to renovate the Annex was overwhelmingly positive, according to Superintendent Patrick Brady, who said it ended with 202 yes and 31 no votes.

The $350,000 project will reconfigure the former daycare building at Potsdam Central School to meet the needs of special needs students.

PCS Board of Education held a public hearing recently where Superintendent Patrick Brady shared a presentation on the proposal to repurpose the 4,900 square foot building for St. Lawrence-Lewis County BOCES Applied Behavioral Analysis program, which serves autistic students.

Brady says there will be no local tax impact on the community and that 83 percent of the cost of the project will be paid by state aid. The additional $59,500 or 17 percent will be paid for by the BOCES.

He says NYS Education Department P-12 Office of Special Education has also approved the plan, which includes establishing special educational classrooms, interior design, windows, office space and bathrooms.

Brady says the project includes roof and siding replacement as well as energy efficiency upgrades to include window repairs, and improvements to heating, air conditioning and lighting.

Construction is expected to begin in May of 2015 with completion expected by October.