Middle School Upgrades Slated To Continue
This Summer Under 2008 Capital Project
In 2008, district voters approved a capital project for needed renovations to the middle school that are nearly completed. Under the scope of work for this undertaking, the renovations have been finished at a favorable cost to the district. Positive cash reserves from this project allows the Board of Education to now consider additional renovations as an addendum to the same capital project. Funds used to further the renovations at the middle school have already been committed for the district’s use by the State Education Department and the expenditure approved by voters.
Of the three schools in the district, the middle school is the only building without its own secure front entrance. Visitors to the middle school must first enter through the elementary school, but then must make their way through school hallways to get to the main office.
In order to provide the middle school with a secured, single-entry point entrance, renovation work will relocate the main office to the front of the school. The current location will be renovated to house the choral program, which will have to be moved in order to make way for the main office. Besides having its own entrance, the new location of the middle school office will permit students and visitors alike to make use of one of the most beautiful architectural features of the building. In fact, the Georgian colonnade entrance in the center of the building has never been used before as the main entrance to the school.
In addition to the interior renovations, the scope of the work provides the district with the opportunity to make much needed repairs and upgrades to the colonnade platform, entry doors, foyer, and front façade.
This work will preserve the historic integrity of the center colonnade, while adding a secure entry point annexed to the main office.
It is important to note that these renovations will be part of the current EXCEL II project and will not create any new costs for taxpayers. The middle school building, the district’s oldest school structure, continues to be a source of pride for our whole community and the planned upgrades will simultaneously retain the historic value of the building and keep it a viable space for teaching and learning for many more decades yet to come.
In addition to the expansion of renovations made possible by savings from lower costs associated with work completed to date, district residents will have an opportunity in May to approve a referendum which will authorize the district to expend the remaining EXCEL allocation associated with the original project. This remaining EXCEL allocation, if approved by voters, will generate a total of $204,000 of funds for outside renovations. Again, it is important to note the district will be able to access this funding without incurring any new debt or costs for taxpayers of the district.
These funds will be used to create handicap parking and access to the front entrance of the middle school. Additional parking for this purpose will not interfere with the pristine view of the school building, but will provide easier access to the middle school by parents and other visitors.
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