Facilities update: classroom construction, playground patching, auditorium bid schedule and summer abatement

The district facilities committee reported construction timelines and site investigations that affect summer work and next‑year availability of school spaces.

The committee said Phase 1 work at Cottage Lane and William O. Schaefer is ongoing with substantial completion at Schaefer targeted for Aug. 22 and cleaning on Aug. 23. The administration said the $2,000,000 capital transfer in the proposed budget will support eight classrooms at William O. Schaefer and other safety and accessibility work.

Board members and facilities staff discussed the artificial‑surface playground at William O. Schaefer, where the engineer noted localized sinking and drainage concerns but found the surface otherwise in good condition. Director of safety John Galina said he was meeting with a local company that offers patching solutions and expected to gather pricing the following day; board members said a repair that extends service life would be preferable to a full replacement that could cost several hundred thousand dollars.

At Tappan Zee High School, the facilities team outlined an auditorium bid schedule with an April 11 posting, June 3 opening and board action anticipated in mid‑June; construction would follow graduation and run June–December 2026. Abatement work for Phase 2 at the high school is scheduled July 7–16 with boiler‑room work and gym flooring planned during that window; certain summer camps will be allowed outside of abatement periods.

The committee also reported the district received NYSED fiscal review comments on Phase 3 at South Orangetown Middle School. The board asked facilities to investigate drainage and tree root issues on the pirate playground and to report back with patching cost estimates before recommending full replacement.