Sachem Board of Education members were told the district’s demographer, who toured buildings earlier in the week, will present findings in person at the board’s next meeting so trustees and the public can ask questions.
Patty said the demographer "was in district yesterday and today walking the buildings to take a look and get a footprint" and will give an update at the next public meeting; trustees asked that any “pinpoint” data that could identify individual students be removed ahead of the public presentation.
Board members used the conversation to link demographic work with long‑range facilities planning. Michelle (facilities) distributed an updated capital projects list she said totals about "$175,000,000" and described the district approach of budgeting and chipping away at the list ("$9,000,000 a year"). She said some large items, such as upgrading boiler rooms, would cost roughly "$1 million to $2 million" per boiler room depending on size.
Facilities staff described work already underway to convert lighting to LEDs using maintenance codes and rebate programs; Michelle said many recent LED purchases have been effectively free after rebates, and the district is tracking rebates and purchases. Board members asked facilities to prepare a clear 1‑/3‑/5‑year plan by building showing planned capital projects, estimated costs and projected energy savings so that any potential school‑closure recommendations from the demographer can be weighed against deferred‑maintenance needs and capital costs.
The board did not take formal action on closures at the meeting. Trustees asked administration to provide: the demographer’s public presentation at the next meeting; a facilities plan showing the buildings with the highest capital needs and estimated immediate savings from LED conversions; and an inventory of boiler rooms that may need replacement and estimated costs per building to inform closure decisions.
The demographer’s in‑person presentation is scheduled for the board’s next regular meeting.