Pelham UFSD lays out $54M-plus infrastructure needs and multiple options for Siwonoy and high‑school upgrades

PELHAM — Officials from the Pelham Union Free School District on Wednesday described widespread infrastructure needs at its older schools and presented multiple design and cost options that could be bundled into a capital bond for voters.

District staff said a recent building‑condition survey, an updated enrollment study and utilization analysis identified roughly $54,000,000 in infrastructure repairs across four older schools, and additional project-specific proposals for Siwonoy Elementary and the high school that range from about $29,900,000 to roughly $40,000,000 for different Siwonoy models and from about $34,500,000 to $44,000,000 for smaller‑ and larger‑scale high‑school additions.

The board is seeking community feedback before it decides the bond scope. “The board of education is gonna be who ultimately makes the decision,” a district representative said during the session.

Why it matters

District leaders said the oldest schools were generally well maintained but are reaching the end of useful life for major systems (boilers, windows, roofs) and feel constrained for modern instruction because classrooms and small‑group spaces are undersized. The district also cited projected enrollment growth at the elementary and high‑school levels that would further strain capacity. Officials described a timeline that would aim for a board decision this winter, a possible May public vote and staged construction starting in subsequent summers if voters approve funding.

What the district presented

• Condition, enrollment and planning background — District staff said the board commissioned a building‑condition survey and an enrollment/demographic study after a multi‑year review of facilities and finance. The district reported current elementary enrollment of about 1,284 students and projected an increase of roughly 100 elementary students by 2029; middle school enrollment was shown moving from 765 to about 784; high‑school enrollment is projected to rise by about 80–100 students in coming years. The district also pointed to aging heating systems (steam heat in older schools), masonry and window work, and roof replacement needs as primary infrastructure drivers.