Syosset superintendent details summer construction, emergency Walt Whitman repair and Berry Hill property transfer effort

Superintendent Dr. Rogers briefed the board on an extensive summer of construction and on legislative progress toward obtaining a narrow parcel of state-owned land adjacent to Berry Hill Elementary that the district says is needed to complete planned construction.

Rogers said emergency work was approved and completed this summer to repair an electrical feeder line at Walt Whitman Elementary after a failure that made the building unusable; the repair was completed about a week and a half before the meeting and had held without interruption. The district also progressed roof replacement projects at the high school and Southwoods Middle School, completed chimney reinforcement work at the high school, and finished a safety-driven redesign at South Grove (separating car and bus arrival/dismissal loops).

At the high school, the district renovated a media/TV classroom to house a radio and podcasting studio and created swing space for programs such as robotics and guidance as phased construction proceeds. Rogers said the district poured the foundation this summer for a replacement high-school testing center (previous portable roof failed) after State Education Department approval was received and that much of the renovation and non-structural work will be done by in-house maintenance staff to reduce costs.

The district is preparing 2026 work that includes bids for gym air-conditioning, a Walt Whitman classroom addition, track and field work and other site projects; additional 2027 work includes pool ventilation and other large items. Rogers said the district is producing a public project chart on the website to explain design, state approvals, bid and construction timelines.

On Berry Hill, Rogers said the building—s rear sits at the property edge and a steep slope behind the building makes construction access and the required fire-access road difficult. About a year ago the district learned the adjacent sliver of state-owned land had been declared surplus; Rogers said the district worked with "our elected officials" and that the legislature passed local bills in both houses at the end of the session authorizing conveyance to the district. He said the district has contacted the governor's office and that the bills are awaiting the governor—s signature.

Because of tight timelines for a summer 2026 construction start, Rogers said the district will submit plans to the State Education Department now that do not assume the conveyance; if the land is later conveyed the district will request an amended approval to alter the site plan. Rogers said this approach is intended to avoid losing an entire construction season if the governor's action is delayed; he described the contacts with the governor—s office as "productive and cordial" but said the district does not yet know the outcome.

Board members asked about approval timelines. Rogers said State Education Department review times have improved from as long as 42 weeks to roughly 12 weeks in recent months but cautioned there is no guarantee approval times will remain short. He explained that local bills often are among the last the governor—s office processes and that timing can extend into December; the district has alerted the executive chamber to the time sensitivity of the Berry Hill conveyance.

Rogers thanked voters for approving the bond last October and noted most large bond-funded projects will start in 2026. He also reiterated the district—s ongoing strategy of using in-house staff where feasible to lower project costs.