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Capital committee withdraws recommended property purchase, reallocates funds to building bathroom upgrades
Summary
The district's capital committee recommended against buying adjacent property for bus parking after a feasibility study cited environmental constraints and cost; funds will be redirected to bathroom upgrades districtwide and athletic-field electrical and fiber upgrades are targeted for completion by April.
The Wappingers Central School District capital committee recommended withdrawing a proposed purchase of adjacent property at Wappingers Junior High for bus garage expansion after a feasibility study identified environmental constraints and high conversion costs. Trustee Eddie Sloshower reported the committee will reallocate the funds toward upgrading bathrooms throughout district buildings.
Sloshower told the board the feasibility study cited environmental issues (including protected turtle and bat habitat), space limitations and conversion costs that made the property unsuitable for bus depot expansion. The committee therefore recommended removing the parcel from the 2023 phase‑2 capital project and using the funds for building bathroom upgrades instead.
Trustee Sloshower also updated the board on several continuing projects: renovations at the main bus garage (including floor leveling and a new water line), installation of a new sound system at Wappingers Junior High, and planning work on a John Jay press box that will require additional electrical capacity. Assistant Superintendent Darren Lokema requested that fiber be run while trenches are open to support future systems upgrades.
Work on sound systems for athletic fields has been delayed by cold weather; the committee is targeting April for completion of the sports‑related trenching and electrical work at both high schools. A separate feasibility traffic study addressing congestion in front of Myers Corner is underway; the committee expects that report by the end of March for presentation at the March 10 board meeting.
Capital committee members present for the Feb. 5 committee meeting included Trustee Capillari, Trustee Johnson and Board President Mike McFarland; the committee thanked Hudson Valley Audio for the recently installed sound system.
The capital committee set its next meeting for March 5 at the RCK Annex.
