Sewanhaka leads off with athletic field work

Richard Tedesco

The $1.54 million planned upgrade of the Alva T. Sanford athletic field in Elmont will be the first step this summer in the capital improvements to be financed by the $86.6 million bond approved by Sewanhaka Central High School district residents earlier this year.

At Tuesday night’s Sewanhaka school board meeting, Sewanhaka Superintendent of Schools Ralph Ferrie said work on the field would include regrading, resodding and installing a drainage system. 

The field is currently used by the Floral Park Memorial High School baseball team and local baseball Little League, and youth soccer and lacrosse teams.

“We can get out in front and get that work done,” Ferrie said.

He said the district administration would contact local youth teams that use the field to minimize any scheduling disruptions the makeover will cause.

The board, Ferrie said, is now setting priorities for capital projects to be financed by the $86.6 million bond at the five district high schools.

“We are in the process of putting together a plan for the work to be completed,” Ferrie said.

The bond was approved for roof repairs, window replacements, ventilation system improvements and auditorium renovations in all the school buildings and installation of turf fields on school athletic fields.

After the meeting, Ferrie said in addition to seeking bids for the athletic field upgrade, the school board is still planning to solicit bids this summer for an energy performance contract. He has said implementation of an energy=performance contract could reduce bond expenditures by $7 million to $10 million by eliminating some projects that would have been covered by the bond.

Sewanhaka voters approved the $86.6 million bond in the May school district election by a nearly 2-1 margin with 9,000 votes cast after voters rejected a $99.5 million bond proposal last December by 293 votes out of more than 5,000 votes cast. 

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