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District advances bond projects and grant pursuit; Bay Elementary asbestos removed before Thanksgiving
Summary
Superintendent reported the district has kicked off theater sound and lighting bond upgrades, is moving forward on unit-ventilator/HVAC bids for three schools, and removed asbestos-containing material at Bay Elementary before Thanksgiving. The district is also pursuing a roughly $500,000 culinary garden and teaching grant.
The Patchogue-Medford Union Free School District reported progress on capital projects and a near-term grant pursuit during its Dec. 8 board meeting.
Facilities and bond work: District officials said bond-funded upgrades to theater sound and lighting for secondary schools have started the kickoff phase and that bids for unit-ventilator and HVAC improvements (planned across three sites — referenced as Bay, South Ocean and Eagle) have gone out with an anticipated construction start in summer 2026. An energy performance contract (EPC) that includes electrical upgrades and solar-panel projects remains under discussion with vendors.
Bay Elementary asbestos removal: Officials reported an earlier discovery of asbestos-containing materials at Bay Elementary. The district said those materials were removed safely before the Thanksgiving holiday; students and staff were placed on remote instruction for two days during the removal. Architects will present scenario options to the board and community in coming months to determine next steps for the Bay project.
Grant pursuit and donations: The district said it is in the final stages of submitting an application for a culinary garden and teaching grant (described in the meeting as approximately a $500,000 grant) that would support farm-to-table programming and a kitchen in elementary schools if awarded. Separately, the district noted 16 donations in the month totaling nearly $9,500.
Why this matters: Capital projects and hazard remediation affect school operations, schedules, and budgets; the asbestos removal and remote instruction episodes were safety-driven operational decisions. The grant would fund curricular and facilities investments if awarded.
What’s next: Architects will bring options for the Bay Elementary site to the board for community discussion; project timelines for HVAC and theater upgrades anticipate summer construction start pending contracts and approvals. The district expects to know more about the grant outcome in early January, per the superintendent's remarks.
