A consultant hired by the Sewanhaka Central High School Board of Education said last week that his firm had identified $78.17 million in repairs and construction needed at the school district’s five high schools.
Richard W. Wiedersum, a partner in Hauppauge-based Wiedersum Associates Architects, said in a presentation at the March 18 school board meeting that the district’s needs include replacement of athletic fields at each of the five high schools as well as other improvements at all five schools.
Among them was an estimated $10.3 million in upgrades at New Hyde Park Memorial High School, including $1.3 million for a new turf athletic field, $2 million for heating ventilation, $1.1 million for a music room, and $1.8 million for improvements to the auditorium, including $800,00 for an air conditioning system.
“There’s an extensive amount of work,” said Sewanhaka Superintendent of Schools Ralph Ferrie. “There’s no guarantee that we’re going ahead with this.”
Ferrie said the earliest the school board would seek approval of a bond issue for any portion of the work outlined in Wiedersum’s presentation would be in a special fall election this year.
During the meeting, he said none of the projects would likely be initiated before the summer of 2015.
He said the Wiedersum study cost the board approximately $9,700.
In addition to the work at New Hyde Park Memorial, projected work at the other four high schools includes:
• $26.1 million at Sewanhaka High School, including a $14 million gym and cafeteria addition, $1.55 million for a new athletic field and $1.33 million for auditorium improvements
• $14.5 million at Floral Park Memorial High School, including $1.56 million for a new athletic field, $9.2 million for an enlarged auditorium. $1.1 for heating and ventilation improvements and $250,000 to restore the building’s masonry
• $16.27 million for Elmont High School, including a $1.4 million athletic field, $2.75 million for a new library, $1.9million for a cafeteria expansion, $1.83 million for heating and ventilation, $1.77 million for a new gym addition; $320,000 for a new gym ceiling and $115,000 for security technology
• $10.9 million at H. Frank Carey High School in Franklin Square, including $2.3 million for an athletic field, $2 million for heating and ventilation, and $2.1 million for auditorium upgrades.
Wiedersum executives met with a committee of five residents representing each high school, as well as the high school administrators and school board members to get their suggestions on the work to be done, according to William Laverty, Wiedersum project coordinator. Laverty said Wiedersum executives also conducted “walk-throughs” at each high school to develop their plans.
“Our task is to make recommendations. They’re going to give us direction on what they want they to do,” Laverty said.
He said new athletic fields were among the priorities cited by representatives of the high schools and the district school board.
“The only field that has ample size is Sewanhaka. The other fields are very tight,” Laverty said.
At the school board presentation, Wiedersum suggested the work on the buildings might be put out for bid one or two buildings at a time.
“We have to study this. We have to talk about it,” said Sewanhaka board President Jean Fichtl.
Maureen Kenney, Sewanhaka assistant superintendent of finance and operations, said each $10 million the school district borrowed would translate to an additional average $22 on each district resident’s tax bill. She said the district would seek state aid for some of the projects.
“We would have to maximize state aid,” she said.
The study of the districtwide repairs and upgrades comes as the school district faces a financial crunch due to the state-mandate tax cap. The school board is considering elimination of as many as 50 staff positions – including 25 teaching positions – to cut $3.27 million in expenses from the 2013-14 school budget to stay within the cap.
“The board’s going to continue to dialogue. They’re going to have to grapple with this and make some decisions on what scope of work they want to do,” Ferrie said.
Reach reporter Richard Tedesco by e-mail at rtedesco@theislandnow.com or by phone at 516.307.1045 x204. Also follow us on Twitter @theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
