Oceanside details Phase 5 construction, turf and athletic renovations funded from capital reserve

District administrators updated the board on summer capital work, saying Phase 5 of a multi‑year project began this summer and multiple athletic and classroom renovations continued at several campuses. Dr. Coakley described Phase 5 as including a brick‑and‑mortar addition to an interior courtyard that will house a robotics and engineering room, a business resource center, storage for prep materials and a video broadcasting suite. Existing technology and woodshop classrooms are being renovated to create an auto shop and a modernized woodshop, he said, and the existing band room is receiving air conditioning. Work that occurred this summer includes turf installation at School 3 (with minor punch‑list items remaining), fully renovated tennis courts at the high school and groundwork for baseball and softball turf with a fall completion targeted and spring use planned for team seasons. Administrators also cited in‑house repairs such as restoration of portables and reclaiming early learning center space at School 6. Administrators emphasized the projects were paid from the district’s capital reserve “which did not have any additional impact on our tax paying community,” and explained the reserve is funded from prior years’ fund balance and voter‑authorized approvals. Dr. Coakley described the state building‑aid process: once the New York State Education Department accepts a closed project, districts receive building aid; he cited an approximate 40 cents on the dollar building‑aid rate for the district as an example of how aid may be returned after project close‑out. Board members asked about project timelines and approvals. Administrators said many projects were voter‑approved in 2023 and 2024 and that New York State Office of Facilities Planning review and approvals can take six months to more than a year. Phase 5 construction will be phased in so the district can maintain school operations; staff estimated the full phase could take about two years from the summer start, with some components completed sooner. Buildings and grounds leadership were recognized; administrators said the facilities team of about 80 staff handled painting, landscaping, maintenance and preparation work required to open buildings on time. There was no formal board vote tied to the capital project update; the board accepted the presentation and asked clarifying questions about funding, approvals and timelines.