Wappingers Central School District board approves state contracts and moves to award general construction for 2025 renovations

Wappingers Central School District Board of Education members approved state contract proposals for the 2025 districtwide renovations, including new field lighting and a synthetic turf system for John Jay High School, and moved to award the primary construction contract after a presentation by district staff.

District staff read the proposals and prices into the record, saying Musco Lighting, LLC would supply and install two sports-field light poles and supplemental lighting for the proposed football/soccer field at a cost presented as $325,833. Staff also presented a proposal for a FieldTurf synthetic-field system, listed in the record as $724,987.10, to cover the proposed football/soccer field and the softball bullpen. "Musco Lighting, LLC, $325,833," staff said; "FieldTurf, $724,987.10," staff added. The board approved those state-contract proposals unanimously.

On the larger renovation, district staff summarized the bid process: the district advertised for bids on April 29, 2026, and the bids were publicly opened and read on May 28, 2026, in accordance with section 103 of the General Municipal Law. The district's architect, Rhinebeck Architecture and Planning PC (a Weston & Sampson company), recommended awarding the general-work contract to Butler Construction, based on its review of bids and bidders. Staff noted the award is contingent on the execution of a written contract, insurance certificates, and performance and labor-and-materials payment bonds in the form required by the project manual.

The record includes a base-bid amount read as $20,844,210 and additional alternates that were read into the record. The meeting record also includes a larger "total award" figure that appears inconsistent with the listed base bid and alternates; staff did not provide a corrected total during the special meeting. The board moved to adopt the award resolution and approved it unanimously.

Board members asked questions about whether a project labor agreement (PLA) would be used and whether students could gain hands-on experience through the project. A committee member asked, "Is this gonna be done by the PLA?" District staff responded that unions and trade representatives have been involved in outreach, and that representatives at a recent skilled-trades fair signaled interest in student engagement, but staff did not state a firm plan for on-site student participation.

The board's approval of the contracts is subject to the standard closing conditions noted by staff and the district's attorney review. The board recorded the motions and approvals in the meeting minutes and moved on to subsequent agenda items.