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Eagle Scout proposes community-built benches for middle school; project to be community funded
Summary
A Port Jervis Eagle Scout candidate outlined a plan to build durable benches for the new middle school, estimating about $2,000 in materials and saying the school would not be asked to pay; he plans workdays in mid-to-late April and will solicit volunteers and donations.
Alexander “Alex” Okowski, an Eagle Scout candidate from BSA Troop 173, presented a community-built bench project to the board March 9, proposing to replicate durable cedar or oak benches first installed in 2018 and to gift the finished work to the district.
Alex said he wants the benches to create continuity between the new middle school at the 209 complex and the high school. He estimated lumber, fasteners and supplies at about $2,000 and said the project would be entirely community-funded and that the school would be expected to contribute $0. He said any excess funds would be gifted to the district or used to refurbish existing benches.
Board members asked about materials and timeline; Alex said he has spoken with the family of the scout who built the original benches in 2018 and expects to source wood locally from Never St. Lumber. He proposed workdays beginning in mid-to-late April with roughly a week required for construction once work begins and said he would publicize donation and volunteer information on social media and directly to board members when cost estimates are finalized.
What was said
- "We meet down at the St. Mary's Catholic Church every Monday," Alex said in introducing himself and his troop affiliation.
- On funding: Alex said, "the school would be asked to pay for $0 of this. This would be entirely community funded, entirely fundraised by my project gifted to the school."
Next steps
Alex will finalize cost estimates, post donation details and coordinate volunteer signups; board members encouraged him to reach out when he has dates and donation instructions.
