Pelham UFSD outlines draft $160M-plus facilities package including Siwonoy expansion, HVAC and ADA work

Pelham Union Free School District officials outlined a draft facilities bond package that would fund roughly $54 million in districtwide infrastructure repairs and proposed a $28 million expansion at Siwonoy Elementary, as well as a larger high-school project, while the board prepares to adopt a scope that could go to voters in May.

The announcement came during a community information session at Siwonoy Elementary where district staff reviewed a multi-year facilities analysis, demographic projections and conceptual designs. Dr. Champ, a district staff member presenting the plan, said the building-condition survey "confirmed for us that our schools are well maintained, but they're suffering from issues that come from age." He added that the district has "opportunities coming up in the next 5 to 6 years where we can borrow $65,000,000 worth of work without adding to the tax burden."

Why it matters: The package targets end-of-life systems (boilers, piping, roofing, windows and masonry), accessibility upgrades to meet Americans with Disabilities Act needs at older schools, additional instructional space for growing special-education needs, and improved air quality/air conditioning to comply with new state limits on instructional spaces at 88 degrees and above. District staff said many of the buildings were built a century ago and lack modern small-group instructional space, cafeterias and adequate science labs.

Key proposals and costs: The district presented a multi-part plan that…