[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6234878,"mediaKeyId","3409428-9ecfc09769c630622c27f4fd79b87e74","parentId",3409428,"title","Ossining High School robotics team earns regional awards, advances to world championships; students urge stronger K-12 pipeline","audioSeconds",1165,"startMs",389000,"endMs",1554000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3409428-9ecfc09769c630622c27f4fd79b87e74&start=389&end=1554","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3409428-9ecfc09769c630622c27f4fd79b87e74/thumbnail_389000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6234878/New-York/Ossining-High-School-robotics-team-earns-regional-awards-advances-to-world-championships-students-urge-stronger-K-12-pipeline","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234878-36813199b164047c413c2b6c17c745dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150760&Signature=EyEYyWQ77dUh9jmvPjD3krq160z2eQNYlUpRqVNlTRixVWq8YvCmocB6rxFwS-awDEsANvY3At1TkUIi1uMzvP-Xahi9IPLFu75AUkpXKAirjnrrs~p~9rPVvnvCKSfcWHDKfY2RwJwhHRjynv675kwdtDmVPAEEe2muxv7WAwmaqCEXyLec9fF4ZYMtBE0UgjIE7n4SBd19mWqUPdduBnYOwtsz2QeHoA~qE8RrZEgcl95vrvIRSf9ucrwXuzTO9FZEqYZ70pf01xVZZznUcfEoshmqcA8bIdeqO7c7zjqg5lc6f3Lz2pKutrJ8sKhSbvrF9VNpNy~q0mIYMzptDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-20T20:19:50.817Z","article","Ossining ' Members of the Ossining High School Engineering/Robotics Club presented their 2025 season to the Board of Education on May 14, told the board they won multiple regional awards and advanced to the FIRST World Championship in Houston, and urged the district to build an earlier K-12 pipeline into robotics and provide more tools and funding.

The presentation matters because students said early exposure and access to equipment (CNC machines, parts and sensors) are limiting factors for competitive performance, and because the district is planning a CTE space that would house a dedicated robotics lab.

The students described their season: they hosted a kickoff with eight regional teams, spent eight weeks in a build season, and competed at three regionals. The team placed 15th at the Hudson Valley Regional and won an \"innovation in control\" award; it finished second and was an event finalist at a Pittsburgh regional, winning an \"outstanding autonomous routine\" award; and it placed fourth at the Tech Valley Regional where the team captained a playoff alliance. Student presenters said those results qualified the team for the FIRST World Championship in Houston. \"This was an amazing experience for us,\" a student presenter said, adding that it was the first time in team history they advanced to the playoffs.

Students pressed for a stronger feeder pipeline from elementary and middle schools. A student explained that younger students often lack exposure to the robotics environment and suggested the district support FIRST LEGO League and FIRST Tech Challenge programs so students arrive at high school better prepared. \"When students come to the high school they really don't have an idea of what we're doing on the team,\" a student presenter said. The students also asked for additional funding for shop access and parts so the team can use newer motors and sensors rather than choosing components based on cost or availability.

Several board members and administrators praised the students and flagged plans to incorporate their needs into ongoing facility design. Superintendent Mary Fox Alter and architects noted the planned CTE building will include a robotics lab with roll-up doors and outdoor access; David Hunsberger of CPL said the new lab \"is going to be a fantastic space.\" Director of Facilities Jared Mance and transportation staff described logistics for moving the robot to outreach events; the district's technology department will arrange elementary-school tours of the robot in the coming weeks.

Students acknowledged adult mentors and volunteers, naming Tom Hannon and alumnus volunteer Mike Lima, and thanked the business office and transportation staff for supporting travel to out-of-state competitions. Board members suggested the team continue outreach to younger students; several trustees said they were already seeing increased interest after recent school visits.

What's next: students will tour elementary schools with the robot and the district will fold input from the team into CTE design discussions over the summer. The board and administration said they will consider options to expand feeder programs and examine funding and equipment needs for the robotics lab design.

The presentation concluded with a live demonstration of the robot and a photo with the board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the Ossining High School Engineering/Robotics Club presented their season results to the Board of Education, described awards and their experience at the FIRST World Championship in Houston, and asked the district to expand feeder opportunities and equipment access for younger students.","taxTitle","OSSINING UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Districts, New York","taxId",38331,"location","New York","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6234881,"Ossining board hears detailed update on $210 million bond project; SED, SHPO, Army Corps reviews remain",5244,1853000,7097000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3409428-9ecfc09769c630622c27f4fd79b87e74&start=1853&end=7097","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3409428-9ecfc09769c630622c27f4fd79b87e74/thumbnail_1853000.jpg","/articles/6234881/New-York/Ossining-board-hears-detailed-update-on-210-million-bond-project-SED-SHPO-Army-Corps-reviews-remain","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6234881-4af7d6f587e2f9896407cad69ab91cbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771150760&Signature=VH5qRqTBeoaLAIx8ZWLUjiGZsMgFaEWbb4dBpM1WcIQXiZeQ1fxCHFz0laPygRS-~NZZQVCBAguUlKoGb9V0kqjha5R6okv97FOyRsHj6bp6fvleEb4UKhcrGRI~yIwFEL2hbjD00yC2snx62aMb13nzSxa-bvtR6xMZA5CRWq1cOxf5V8G76xTPyPpr35GY8NqncXJ0Tnrct1B7qfbpvHzWShtuuytiIDHh50CzWnIJ9AMkxIRRcdrzhP7~jUu57PjRvUFQ-M11YJ0y9vDQxWn11oySlPdhXt15U8T4o7ZTnA896gCHk1H4QO3IqX9A1~xqiB49eWBV3wihFBLg1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ossining — Superintendent Mary Fox Alter told the Board of Education on May 14 that work is underway to implement the district's $210,000,000 bond and that the district has submitted a preliminary package to the New York State Education Department for review.

The update matters because the bond funds multiple additions and renovations across the district'including a new career and technical education (CTE) facility, a multi-story addition at the high school, and renovation of a church the district owns'and because the district is seeking to maximize state building aid that will reduce the local share.

Architects from CPL, construction manager ARRIS Contracting and fiscal advisers told the board the team has reorganized the work into a new sequence of phases so that the district can connect the high school campus to the former church and secure state building aid for that renovation. Paul Tazi, construction manager, said the team added an initial Phase 0 to remove the rectory and other hazardous materials this summer so work can proceed from an adjacent staging area without disrupting occupied parts of the campus. \"We want to get rid of some of the hazardous materials right out of the gate so we could just work on the project,\" Tazi said.

Architect David Hunsberger said the Phase 1 scope now includes the locker-room renovations and a new two-story CTE addition that will include a robotics lab with roll-up doors and outdoor access, science labs above the fitness center and a bridge connection at the second floor to the future church renovation. He said schematic design is complete and the team is moving into design development for room layouts and systems. \"We're trying to knit all the early construction with the later construction,\" Hunsberger said.

Fiscal advisers described efforts to maximize building aid. Andrew Watkins and Mike Visconti said the district identified four CTE classes that PNW BOCES will certify, which increases building-aid units (BAUs) and raises the state's allowable maximum cost allowances for eligible CTE work. Visconti said the district's building aid ratio is about 68.1 percent and that the team is managing submissions, contract award timing and final cost reports so the aid flows against debt service as planned. \"My sole purpose with fiscal advisers is ... to maximize building aid,\" Visconti said.

The board heard a multi-year sequencing and cash-flow plan: demolition and remediation of the rectory this coming summer (Phase 0A); site grading and staging (Phase 0B); construction of the locker-room and two-story addition and adjacent CTE building beginning October 2026 through July 2028; renovation of the music wing and student commons in summer 2028 to January 2030; work on a 78 Building from spring 2027 to summer 2029; and renovation of the church/CTE space in summer 2029 through summer 2031. ARRIS project manager Chris Hanneberg presented a collapsed planning schedule and said the detailed project schedules behind each block contain multiple pages for bidding, permitting and phasing.

Board members pressed staff on approvals and site constraints. The district is awaiting reviews and permits from the State Education Department (SED), the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) before some site work can proceed. Tazi noted tree clearing and early earthwork will be limited by seasonal wildlife protections (November 15 to March 15 for nesting restrictions) and that some staging and grading will start in late 2025 and spring 2026 once agency approvals are obtained.

The board approved routine consent items tied to construction: the agenda included several award-of-bid resolutions for the Brookside classroom addition and associated mechanical, electrical and plumbing contracts, and the board approved a resolution authorizing a letter of resolution with NYSED and OPRHP regarding the church renovation (consent agenda items 5.4'5.7 and 5.11). The motions were moved and seconded under the consent agenda and the board voted to approve them as part of the consent package.

District staff emphasized logistics and safety. Jared Mance, the district's director of facilities, and transportation head Jim Minahan briefed the board on bus and service access, staging areas and construction sequencing designed to minimize disruption to students during occupied-school construction. Project leaders said much of the early work focuses on creating a staging platform so heavy equipment does not operate over occupied building footprints.

What's next: the district said it will continue coordination with SED on the preliminary submission, pursue SHPO and federal reviews for site work, finalize design development documents, and then proceed with bidding and contract award recommendations for the board to consider. Staff said they will maintain the district's plan to avoid a tax-levy increase by sequencing borrowing, using a planned transfer to capital and maximizing state building aid.

Board members and staff stressed it is an evolving program with dependencies on state and federal approvals and building-aid determinations. \"This is a team approach,\" Alita (Assistant Superintendent for Business) said, summarizing the district's work to date and the collaboration across architects, construction managers, fiscal advisers and school leaders.

The board asked for continued progress updates as approvals and bids move forward.","Superintendent Mary Fox Alter and district architects, construction managers and fiscal advisers told the Board of Education the district has completed the SED preliminary submission for the $210 million bond and laid out a phased construction schedule contingent on state and federal approvals and building-aid calculations.","actionData","errors"]

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Ossining High School robotics team earns regional awards, advances to world championships; students urge stronger K-12 pipeline

Ossining board hears detailed update on $210 million bond project; SED, SHPO, Army Corps reviews remain