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District earmarks $6.1M transfer to capital; Memorial Building upgrades and new buses planned
Summary
The board’s budget presentation allocates $6.1 million for capital projects, flags upgrades at the Memorial Building, drainage and turf work, and plans to purchase seven large buses and four vans for the 2025–26 year.
As part of the budget presentation on April 9, district staff outlined facility and transportation investments proposed for 2025–26, including a proposed transfer to capital of $6.1 million and planned vehicle purchases intended to allow the district to bring more routes in-house.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Michael Conway said the $6.1 million is earmarked for projects including outdoor learning centers at Birchwood and Oakwood, a maker space at Stimson, media-center work at the high school and multiple renovations at the Memorial Building on Pigeon Hill Road. Conway said the district will take possession of the Memorial Building after the current lease with the Long Island School for the Gifted ends in June and plans electrical upgrades, security vestibule work, cafeteria renovations, flooring, ceilings and IT improvements.
Conway described other projects listed for potential capital funding: drainage repairs at the high school field (Phase 2 of the Wildcats Stadium), JKO parking-lot repairs to address potholes and safety concerns, a new turf field to support athletics and community events and a traffic signal at the Walt Whitman exit. He said scoreboard replacements for softball and baseball are already up and that the marine-biology center at the high school is nearly complete.
On transportation, Conway said staff intend to purchase seven 66-passenger buses and four 29-passenger vans for 2025–26. He said Transportation Director Laura Brothers recommended the extra large bus because some van routes are more complex and difficult to take back from third-party vendors; adding the large bus may allow the district to realize savings by operating that route in-house sooner.
Facilities committee remarks at the meeting noted ongoing work: Silas Wood will receive new doors (pending State Education Department approval), a repaired sinkhole area, and other planned summer projects, including science classroom renovations. The board also discussed an Energy Performance Contract (EPC) Part 3 procurement to continue campus energy improvements funded to pay for themselves.
Ending: If approved by voters and scheduled contractors, staff said the projects would be staged for summer work and the coming school year; the board will present the capital proposition to voters on May 20 as part of the budget process.
