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Ossining board gets progress report on $210 million bond, phases move into summer work
Summary
The Ossining Union Free School District board received a multi‑hour update June 24 on the $210 million capital bond: Brookside classroom addition and elevator work are finishing; AMD driveway and cooling projects advance over the summer; phase‑one CTE and locker‑room work will mobilize as SED reviews continue on the larger 78 building.
The Ossining Union Free School District board on June 24 heard a detailed progress report on the district’s $210 million capital bond program, with contractors mobilizing for multiple summer construction activities and planning underway for larger projects that will bid this fall.
Superintendent Mary Fox opened the facilities update by introducing the project team and celebrating immediate wins: Brookside’s nine‑classroom addition is in interior finishing with drywall and taping expected to be complete in days, the elevator has been installed and the school will be air‑conditioned. Dave Huntsburgger of CPL Architects and Engineers described interior sequencing—primer, flooring, ceiling grid and casework—and said once drywall is complete the finishes will move quickly.
The board learned the AMD campus is seeing two concurrent summer projects: a multistage driveway and parking buildout (areas A–D) with final paving planned for late July or early August, weather permitting, and a major rooftop cooling unit replacement requiring crane work and a new electrical service. Presenters stressed the work was timed for the summer to avoid classroom disruption and that pedestrian protections and staging plans are in place.
Mary Fox and Facilities Director Jared Mance reviewed the bond phasing. Phase 0 (demolition of an annex/rectory at the church site) is complete; phase 1 (locker‑room overbuild and CTE addition) is prepared to mobilize pending insurance and bonding paperwork; phase 2 (music wing/student commons) is in design with an SED submittal due at year‑end; and the CTE renovation of the church and the large new “78 building” remain at various stages of NYSED review. The team said they plan to bid some packages this fall and begin construction on major components next year.
Board members pressed presenters on names and timing for the 78 building, code constraints (firewall separations preventing sightline glazing between certain new and existing spaces), security and energy tradeoffs (favoring limited exterior glass in some areas), and the cost and treatment of an historic stained‑glass window in the church. Staff warned that full restoration of the largest stained‑glass window had been priced at roughly $500,000 in early estimates and that decisions about preserving or relocating the iconography are under study.
On procurement, staff said they issued five bid packages for phase 1; four returned within budget and one did not, prompting a special meeting for award decisions. The district said safety and site coordination—swing spaces for music and athletics, protected pedestrian walkways, card‑reader access for staff, and continued summer programming at alternate sites—are part of the operational planning.
Looking ahead, presenters confirmed solar panels will be included on the CTE addition and the gym addition to meet New York State energy requirements. Officials described close schedule management and frequent meetings with contractors to keep projects on time and on budget, while acknowledging seasonal constraints (e.g., protected wildlife periods) that can affect specific site work.
The board did not take any construction actions at the meeting; staff said voters and the public will continue to see regular photo and newsletter updates on progress.
