Attend an information session at the FMES
Just two community residents attended the first information session about the planned Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery Central School District $44.4 million capital project. But, that’s okay, Deputy Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank Sheboy said. There are three more sessions planned (all at the Fort Montgomery Elementary School on March 18, 22 and 25) and he’ll be there to talk about the project even if no one shows up.
But … he’s hopeful people will attend, because he wants them informed on the project, which will bring better parking at two schools, air conditioning to classrooms in all three schools; a reliable heating system in all three schools; new roofs; a remodeled kitchen at O’Neill High School where all food fed to the district’s students is prepared; and more space — 2500 ft. to be exact — at the Fort Montgomery Elementary School, where students are currently being taught in hallways and on the gym stage.
The project will also increase security at the Fort Montgomery Elementary School, and provide for better mobility in that building with handicap ramps and a new elevator. In a building addition, a new cafeteria/multipurpose room would be created, freeing up space near the front door for classroom space and a more functional nurse’s office.
The vote on the project is planned for Tuesday, March 28, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the front lobby of the Highland Falls Intermediate School.
The two residents who were at the meeting last week had good questions.
Would the stage in the FMES that is now office space be converted back to a stage for productions? No. And, Would new playground equipment be added at the FMES? Again, no, but the district is hoping that parent groups will work with school leaders to look for grants for better outdoor play space.
Would all classrooms in all buildings have air conditioning? Yes — “because we want healthier air for our children faculty and staff, especially coming out of a global pandemic,” Sheboy said.
Will parking lot lighting be improved at the FMES? Yes.
Will construction take place around the schedules of the young students in the FMES? Yes — “The state education Department has very specific rules for construction at schools,” Kevin Sawyer from Triton Construction Management, told those at the session. He said there will be a full-time manager on site during the work and because they “understand the obligation to educate students” we work very closely with school administration to keep children safe.
Sawyer went on to speak about a recent project he worked on where creative teachers worked on-site construction equipment into their curriculum, delighting students by talking about construction vehicles, etc.
The FMES will get the most work done, but the actual cost of the work done there (about $11 million) will be slightly less than in the other schools ($11.5 million at the HFIS and $14.2 million at O’Neill), Sheboy said.
“That’s simply because it’s just a smaller building,” he said, showing artists’ renderings of what the newly remodeled school will look like. He called it a “postage stamp size property”, but said it looks like they’ll be able to add 18-20 parking places at the school.
The work will take two “building cycles” at minimum, Sheboy said. With voter approval, the planning and paperwork would begin immediately, with construction to begin in the summer of 2024 and completion in the fall of 2025.
The project “will not lead to property tax increases”, Sheboy said, saying that $8.8 million that the district has in reserve funds will be used; that state aid will be 82.9 cents on every aidable dollar spent; and that debt “falling off” of the district’s rolls make it a good time to add new debt.
And, a final question from the audience was ‘what happens if voters say no?’
“If it doesn’t pass, I imagine our educational process will occasionally be disrupted,” Sheboy said, reflecting on a three-day period last winter when the FMES had to be closed due to an electrical panel failure. “The issues will still have to be repaired, and maintenance funds will have to be increased in the annual budget. This will increase taxes.” Sheboy also indicated that work done if this project fails would likely raise taxes.
Again, all three remaining information sessions will take place at the FMES — at 10 a.m. on March 18, 7 p.m. on March 22, and 10 a.m. on March 25.
Residents can also expect to soon see a flyer in their mail with information about the project; district officials have spoken at recent Town and Village Board meetings, and at other community group meetings. There is also a great deal of information on the project at www.hffmcsd.org.
