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Superintendent warns DOT culvert repair delay could affect Somers school year; district to prepare contingency plans
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Adam Braunstein told the Somers board that a delayed state Department of Transportation culvert repair at Route 202 and Warren Street may impact the 2026–27 school year; administrators will develop contingency plans and share them with the community.
Superintendent Dr. Adam Braunstein told the Somers Central School District Board of Education on July 7 that a state Department of Transportation culvert repair project at the intersection of Route 202 and Warren Street, originally scheduled to start in late June, has been delayed and may affect the upcoming 2026–27 school year.
Braunstein said the project had been moved from a proposed February start date to late June to avoid interfering with the school year, and contractors were on site June 27 to begin bond-related work. He said the DOT later identified a sewer line adjacent to the culvert that was not previously accounted for and that the state must seek additional permissions from the Department of Environmental Conservation before the contractor can proceed.
"I have great concern about the impact this will have on our families and our students and our staff, if it were to continue into the school year," Braunstein said, describing the district's ongoing contingency planning. He told the board administrators will continue planning during an upcoming administrative retreat and will communicate contingency measures to families as soon as possible.
Board members asked whether the state had provided a new start date; Braunstein said a new date had not been confirmed and that the district's ability to influence the DOT schedule is limited. He noted the town supervisor and highway department have more detailed information about the project's requirements for the contractor.
The superintendent said the district will consider options should the repair extend into the school year and will update the community promptly. No public commenters attended the meeting to address the issue.
The board also noted that district bond work unrelated to the DOT project had begun, with contractors and fencing observed on June 27.
Braunstein's remarks came during the superintendent's report portion of the reorganizational meeting and preceded routine consent votes and committee assignments.
