Board advances Phase 3 security upgrades; middle school to close for summer construction

Superintendent Nicholas A. Colosi told the Oxford Academy and Central School District Board on Jan. 5 that "phase 3 plans (security updates) will be submitted this week" and that construction is expected to begin in March. The Phase 3 work centers on school safety and will include a temporary wall around the technology, agriculture and art suite and marked traffic patterns to separate student movement from construction zones.

Colosi said the middle school campus will be closed this summer while crews replace windows, upgrade electrical systems and boilers and perform exterior work. He said Mr. Hrehor — working with C&S companies — will oversee the project. The cupola will be lifted, the copper replaced and lighting added; entry pillars will be replaced and existing bluestone will be salvaged or reused where possible. Colosi said an alternate entrance will be established if needed so the school can open for the next term.

The district will also enclose high school production and stage equipment in a roll-top cabinet for safety, install basketball hoops in the high school cafeteria and add a pathway to the overflow parking area at the PS/HS campus. Colosi noted one of the new PS/HS signs was damaged while plowing and is being replaced, and that a new grounds vehicle and salt stored at the state barn have improved winter operations. The board approved project-related contracts and resolutions later in the meeting.