Superintendent details consolidation, construction timeline and $2.36M budget gap; flags electric‑bus costs

Superintendent Dr. Douglas and district finance staff outlined the state of the schools and a preliminary budget picture at the Horseheads Central School District board meeting on Feb. 13, detailing continued construction work, consolidation of elementary buildings and a budget gap the administration quantified at about $2.36 million.

Douglas said the district has been planning consolidation since 2017, and that the elementary day will be extended to meet New York State Education Department minimum‑hours requirements. “We had 1 of the shortest days of less than 5 hours 50 minutes for elementary. Now it'll be roughly 6 hours and 46,” Douglas said, adding the district is increasing elementary physical‑education time and hopes to restore more recess minutes.

The presentation included photographs and timelines for capital projects: nearly completed work at Garden (Garden/Gardner) Road and Barton Road cafeterias and gyms, continuing prep for the high‑school phase, and parking and bus‑loop redesign at Ridge Road. Douglas said the district expects to bring construction contracts to the board soon and to start major high‑school and Ridge Road work this spring,…