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Harrison district outlines summer renovations, accessibility upgrades and new classroom additions
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Wall told the Harrison Central School District Board on Sept. 17 that in-house crews completed extensive summer work at Parsons Memorial and Harrison Avenue schools, added lifts and classrooms, and advanced the Purchase addition and a turfed high‑school field with occupancy and construction timelines.
At the Harrison Central School District Board of Education meeting on Sept. 17, Superintendent Dr. Wall summarized this summer’s facilities work across multiple schools and outlined timelines for remaining construction.
Dr. Wall said the district’s in‑house maintenance crew completed large portions of the Parsons Memorial School renovation, reopening parts of a building that had been closed for “over 70 years,” and installing new classrooms, a skylight and lockers. “This is what it looks like now,” Dr. Wall said while describing the renovated spaces now occupied by students. She credited staff for performing much of the work and highlighted new lifts that make the building accessible to students with mobility needs.
The board heard that Parsons now has a multipurpose room above the main office for parent and faculty meetings and training. Dr. Wall said the district found and reopened a former main entrance, added a security entrance and created additional administrative space including an SRO office and conference room.
Harrison Avenue School also received major work this summer. Dr. Wall said the lower level housing the new main offices will be closed for one week next week to finish the final phase of renovations intended to create a secure main entrance; the project included relocating nurses and psychologist offices and creating a centralized, controlled entry.
The Purchase School addition has progressed: new sidewalks, expanded playgrounds and basketball courts and multiple classroom additions off a new cafeteria are under construction. Dr. Wall told the board the Rose Garden math wing gained four classrooms that the district expects to be ready for occupation by February 2026.
The high school field was reported to be fully turfed, with one side laid out for soccer and the other for baseball; the district said the field should be playable in early November, with full completion to follow. Dr. Wall noted the project encountered more rock than anticipated, which affected progress.
Dan Morabito, the district’s head custodian, and other facilities staff were singled out in the superintendent’s remarks for handling multiple projects over the summer, including hosting summer programs while renovating buildings.
Why it matters: the renovations increase capacity, accessibility and security across elementary and secondary schools, affect daily operations (temporary closures), and set timelines for when new classroom space and athletic facilities will come into use.
The board did not take formal action on these project updates during the meeting; the superintendent sought to update the community and thanked staff for the summer work.
