Katonah-Lewisboro board hears community concerns as district weighs Lewisboro Elementaryfuture and prepares for universal pre-K mandate

KATONAH, N.Y.

The Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education held a virtual community forum to explain options for the Lewisboro Elementary School (LES) campus and to outline how the district plans to meet New York States recently passed universal pre-K mandate.

Board President Lorraine Gallagher said LES will close at the end of August because of building-condition and safety concerns, and that the session was intended to gather community input rather than make decisions.

"No decisions will be made this evening, but your comments and questions will help inform the board's discussions and work in the weeks ahead," Gallagher said.

Why the district is revisiting LES and the financing estimate

Architects working with the district estimated a renovation and repurposing plan at about $24.5 million; Niall Washburn of H2M Architects and Engineers said that figure is a planning estimate based on recent comparable school projects, prevailing-wage labor, contingency lines and industry cost guides. He said the project had not gone to formal bid because voters rejected the bond and the district therefore could not show available funds to bidders.

"These budgets are based on recent similar projects," Washburn said, noting the estimate was cross-checked by Triton, the district's construction manager/owner's representative.

Board members and staff emphasized the difference between estimates and formal contractor bids. "We did get estimators, but we were not able to get the bids and actually sit down for an opening of the bids for a project because there was no project," the board said in response to a resident's question.

State funding and the pre-K mandate

Assistant Superintendent for Business Lisa Herlihy described the state funding that accompanies the mandate: building aid that typically offsets roughly 25% of eligible capital costs (varies by district wealth ratios) and operating aid of about $10,000 per child at the top of the reimbursement scale when classrooms meet state certification and staffing rules.

"The state is requiring each school district to provide a place for 4-year-olds if the parents so choose," Herlihy said. "The parents don't have to accept the space; they can choose private options or keep their child home." She added that to receive the maximum per-pupil funding, districts must meet staffing and classroom configuration standards.

Options, constraints and next steps

Panelists described several paths the board is studying: (1) demolish LES (the district has previously estimated demolition cost lower than full renovation), (2) renovate and repurpose LES for UPK and community uses, or (3) pursue a more distributed approach by identifying community provider spaces through a request for information (RFI). The district said the LES proposal was designed to avoid disruption across multiple occupied elementary schools.

Director of Operations Mike Laboy said interim site work will include securing the property: "Theres already perimeter fencing in the vines and weeds ... it would be similar to that fencing that would just wrap around the property," he said, adding maintenance (lawn care) and limited solar installation plans for parts of the site are in process.

Several residents urged the board to study scaled-back alternatives that prioritize the minimum UPK requirements, for example converting only the classrooms needed to meet state rules rather than preserving larger community amenities. Board members said those "building block" scenarios and cost comparisons will be part of upcoming meetings on July 30 and late August.

Public concerns and operational limits

Residents pressed for clarity about several items: how the $24.5 million number was derived, why formal contractor bids were not solicited, what would happen to youth programs that used LES space, where students would be placed if LES is not renovated, and whether there could be a revote. Board members repeatedly said the close margin on the bond (22 votes) and the later enactment of the state UPK requirement have prompted further community outreach, surveys and focus groups.

On the question of moving fifth graders into the middle school as an alternative, officials said the district had "decided last week" it did not have the appetite to pursue that option because of pedagogical, restroom/fixture and square-footage constraints, and the disruption it would cause across multiple campuses.

What remains undecided

No formal action was taken at the forum. The board asked residents to complete a mailed survey, participate in focus groups and attend the July 30 and August meetings as staff refine cost options and the RFI results arrive. Officials said any future bond or borrowing would be subject to voter approval.

"We're on a listening tour to best serve our communities," Gallagher said. "We will continue to revise our plans based on the input we receive and the state's requirements."

Ending note

The district posted an LIS (Lewisboro Elementary School) information tab on its website with survey and RFI materials; staff said they would publish updated FAQs and cost breakdowns as analyses are refined in the coming weeks.