Building plans approved by State Education Department

Construction to begin this summer

Much-needed repairs to the Voorheesville school buildings and bus garage are a step closer to commencing after the State Education Department, SED, approved plans for the $5.82 million project this week.

The project, which was first approved by residents on Sept. 19, includes renovations at the district’s three schools and the bus garage. District officials along with the project architects submitted the plans to the state late last year All school districts construction plans must be submitted to SED for approval before construction can begin.

"This is a good step forward in the process," said Michael Fanning, the project architect.

Work is slated to begin this summer on the top two floors of the elementary school – the 1930 and 1949 sections – as well as in the middle/high school. Construction will continue through the summer of 2008, and in the fall no work will take place during the school day.

Elementary school renovations (89 percent of the project) include:

• Installing energy efficient unit ventilators, replacing valves and installing an energy management system and exhaust systems for adequate airflow to replace the current system.

• Replacement of asbestos tile flooring throughout the school and repairing deteriorated sub floors where necessary.

• Mitigation of ground water and moisture seepage through the foundation into the lower gym and along the classrooms facing the courtyard.

• Replacement of the fire alarm and smoke detector system.

• Rebuilding the wheelchair-accessible entrance and vestibule of the building.

• Replacing the single-pane windows in the 1963 wing, which are leaky and inefficient.

• Reconstruction of the 1963 wing restrooms to make them handicapped accessible.

• Repairing structural damage to “the exterior” masonry, parapet and chimney.

• Replacing corridor ceilings.

• Adding electrical panels and adding a water softener system for the heating system and domestic hot water.

High school renovations (9.4 percent of the project) include:

• Rebuilding the tennis courts, which were built in 1966 and have had no major upgrades since that time.

• Replacing moveable partitions to meet code specifications.

• Renovating restrooms that were not renovated during the 2001 project.

• Installing an abuse-resistant suspended ceiling in the older gym.

• Adding a water softening system comparable to the one proposed for the elementary school.

• Some additional regrading and paving.

Bus garage improvements (1.6 percent of the project) include:

• Replacing dim, old lights with brighter, more efficient ones.

• Relocating the vehicle exhaust system farther from the main building.

• Replacing non-operational parts of the old heating system.

• Filling a flooded underground holding tank and sealing the floor above it.

During the summer, the elementary school offices will be temporarily located in the high school. Next fall, two elementary classrooms at a time will be relocated to “swing classrooms” within the building in order for work in them to be completed. In total, 16 classrooms will be temporarily relocated during the school year.

The district is planning to host a pre-bid conference on Monday, March 19 at 4 p.m. for interested bidders and the deadline for bids is March 29.