Ossining board hears $210 million bond update; church renovation redesigned after structural review

At its Dec. 17 meeting, the Ossining Union Free School District Board of Education received a detailed update on the district's multi-phase capital program funded by a $210,000,000 bond. Superintendent Mary Fox Fulcher and architects from CPL outlined construction underway across the district, including a Brookside classroom addition, a new access driveway and emergency route for the AMD campus off Stormytown Road, and the larger high-school bond projects that will be phased over several years.

The architects described the program as phases 0 through 5: a preparatory Phase 0 to enable staging and demolition, Phase 1 to add a locker-room overbuild and a CTE addition at the high school, Phase 2 for a music wing and commons renovation, Phase 3 for renovation of a nearby church to create CTE/performance space, Phase 4 for a new 7'/8 building, and Phase 5 for Clermont renovations. "We passed one of the most historic bonds in Westchester County history, $210,000,000," Mary Fox Fulcher told the board. The presenters said they are aiming to submit Phase 1 plans to the New York State Education Department (SED) early next year to allow spring approvals and summer bidding.

The update centered on the church renovation that is intended to become a performance and CTE space. Architects and engineers reported emerging structural and envelope issues in the historic church: deteriorated roofing, 19th-century trusses and attic framing that do not meet modern loading requirements, and masonry that requires repointing. As the presenters described it, structural engineers concluded the original trusses could not reliably carry new mechanical systems, sprinklers and theatrical rigging. The team recommended a design approach that preserves the smaller chapel area where feasible while creating a new independent support system in the larger performance space.

"The roof needs to be fully replaced on this building," an architect said during the presentation. The team explained that continuing with the original plan risked ballooning costs, increased change orders and contractor difficulty because much of the work would need to be done 40 feet above the floor in a curved, hard-to-access ceiling. To reduce unknowns and keep the project within the bond budget, the architects returned to design development with CPL and proposed a modified concept that reduces contractor risk while protecting key historic elements where possible.

Construction managers reported specific progress on district-funded capital work. Brookside's classroom addition (nine classrooms plus elevator and support spaces) has concrete foundations and slabs poured; steel erection and masonry are underway. On the AMD campus, fencing and staging areas were installed, piping for a chilled-water cooling system is being placed and major equipment (rooftop units and a chiller) has been ordered. Managers said much of the HVAC-related work would occur on a second shift during the school year to minimize disruption to daytime instruction.

Board members asked about potential surprises, change orders and safety measures during in-session construction. The CPL team said it is doing detailed design-development cost estimating to reduce the risk of change orders, is coordinating closely with structural and preservation consultants, and will engage third-party environmental and hazardous-materials specialists to manage dust and air-quality monitoring during demolition and construction. The architects also said the State Historic Preservation Office has reviewed and supported aspects of the plan to date.

The board approved an award of bid for the classroom building annex and rectory demolition/site work; presenters said the demolition will create necessary laydown and staging space for Phase 1 operations. Officials emphasized that the district closed the church parking area early to avoid forcing students to vacate the lot mid-year once demolition begins.

Next steps for the bond program include completing design development, refining budgets, submitting permits and SED materials in early 2026 for Phase 1 approvals, awarding additional contracts, and commencing phased construction that program managers say is designed to limit disruption to instruction.

The board received the update and thanked the project team; the presentation preceded the meeting's consent votes and other business and the meeting adjourned later the same evening.