Valley Central launches summer construction under $46.5 million voter-approved capital project

Brad Conklin, assistant superintendent for business for the Valley Central School District, said in July 2025 that summer construction has begun across the district under a voter-approved 2023 capital project estimated at $46,500,000. The work includes boiler replacements, classroom renovations, ventilation upgrades and secure vestibules at multiple schools; district officials said projects are planned to be ready for students when classes restart in September. At Valley Central High School, Conklin said crews are replacing the building’s boiler system and renovating science and English classrooms. "The trucks and vehicles you are seeing behind me are primarily for the boiler replacement project that's happening in the basement in this area," Conklin said. He said the high school’s older boilers, dating from the 1960s, are being removed and new boilers are scheduled for installation before the end of the summer. Conklin described a two-month effort to fully renovate 11 science classrooms in the high school’s science wing. He also said about 26 classrooms in the English wing are receiving new ceilings, ceiling tiles, lighting and unit ventilators; a new unit ventilator is slated for installation later in the summer. The district is also building secure vestibules at each school as part of the capital project. At Berea Elementary, Conklin said the work will include a new ramp and relocation of two kindergarten classrooms from doors that opened directly to the lobby to more interior classroom locations, and moving the main office and nurse’s office to the front entrance. At Montgomery Elementary, Conklin said construction is underway on a secure vestibule and the first phase of a ventilation-improvement project; that ventilation work is expected to be completed next summer, and a slate roof replacement is scheduled to begin next week. At East Coldenham, he described a boiler replacement that requires abatement as well as building-wide classroom ventilation improvements, new ceilings, structural steel work and a new secure main vestibule. Conklin credited custodial staff, building maintenance teams, the district’s architects and construction managers for coordinating the projects. He said the scale of the work requires months of planning and coordination so the district is ready to open for students in September. No formal votes or board actions were described during the site remarks; Conklin framed the remarks as an update on ongoing work funded by the voter-approved 2023 capital project.