Bethlehem Central lays out 2025 bond schedule and plan to relocate Ellir students for renovations

The Bethlehem Central School District Board of Education received a detailed update on the 2025 capital bond project and a district proposal to temporarily relocate Ellir students so comprehensive renovations can be completed in a single construction period.

Nick, the district presenter, said the bond program uses two design phases and a staggered construction schedule. "We intend on beginning construction phase one in the spring/summer of 2027," he said, describing a sequence of SED (State Education Department) review, bidding and contract awards that would follow design development. He listed project scopes by building—air conditioning and roof work at Eagle and Slingerlands; classroom, ADA and fire‑alarm upgrades at Glenmont and Hammerrell; infrastructure and boiler work at the middle school; and exterior and site work, including bus lot repaving and stadium perimeter fencing, at the high school.

Why it matters: district staff said completing as much work as possible in one block of construction reduces repeated classroom disruptions and is more economical than multiple short renovations spread over several years.

Superintendent Jody outlined a proposal to shut Ellir for a single construction period and move students and staff to temporary locations. "June 30th or July 1st through December of 2027, Ellir would shut down," Jody said, describing a plan to relocate kindergarten and the Connections program to either Slingerlands or Eagle and to move grades 1–5 into a self‑contained wing at the middle school. Officials said that wing can be isolated for security and would provide direct access to fields and bathrooms.

District staff emphasized logistics they still must finalize: where lunches would be served (classroom vs. cafeteria), recess supervision and designated play areas, furniture and library moves, transportation adjustments and security hardening of alternate entrances. The superintendent said stakeholders—transportation, food services, PTOs and staff—will be engaged through the planning year and that the construction manager is developing a more detailed block schedule.

Health and safety constraints also shaped the timeline. Staff said hazardous‑materials abatement in the Ellir fifth‑grade wing must occur before interior construction can proceed; that abatement is what pushed planners toward a longer single shutdown rather than multiple shorter phases.

Board members asked whether the district could accelerate high‑school cafeteria and gym air‑conditioning. Katherine noted an energy audit is under way, which staff said will help ensure mechanical systems are sized and specified correctly before major work begins. Staff also said the district expects to deploy temporary AC for hot‑weather events or Regents exams if needed.

What the board decided and next steps: no formal vote on the bond schedule or Ellir relocation occurred at this meeting. Staff will return with finalized schedules and stakeholder plans; construction‑phase start dates and SED submission timing were given as targets rather than firm contract dates.

Provenance: The capital bond overview begins with Nick's presentation (topicintro: SEG 390) and the Ellir relocation discussion continues through the superintendent's logistics Q&A (topfinish: SEG 1479).