Katonah-Lewisboro District Lays Out $49.5M Capital Improvement Plan

CROSS RIVER, NY — Plans to spend tens of millions of dollars modernizing infrastucture in the Katonah-Lewisboro School District are being laid out for the public before the proposals are finalized.

At its Thursday meeting, the Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education reviewed details of the $49.5 million Capital Improvement Project proposal which goes to a community vote on October 18. The proposal, designed by the board-appointed Facilities Committee and first presented to the BOE on June 16, includes strategic upgrades at all five schools. The plans call for creating "modern, flexible teaching and learning environments especially in the areas of science, technology and performing arts; update aging infrastructure; reduce environmental impact and enhance security."

District administrators have taken great pains to make sure planning for the multi-million dollar project has the appearance of transparency.

"It’s important to give our community as much information as possible about this proposal," said Superintendent Andrew Selesnick.

He noted that each school district resident will be mailed an informational newsletter about the Capital Improvement Project proposal. Soon, posters announcing the October 18 vote will be hung at schools, grocery stores, libraries and community centers throughout Katonah-Lewisboro, and info about the process will be distributed at back-to-school events, curriculum nights and at community gathering places. In addition, on October 3 and 4, there will be in-person public events dedicated to providing more information. The time and place of the meetings will be announced on the district’s website, Facebook page and through an email to the community.

Plans are also underway for a meeting with Katonah-Lewisboro’s municipal leaders to inform them directly about the Capital Improvement Project proposal.

During the BOE meeting, trustee Rory Burke asked for clarification on the term “maker space,” a new learning environment planned for each elementary school. Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Mary Ford gave a brief overview of the planned age-appropriate spaces where students use design thinking to create digital and physical solutions to problems.

Superintendent Selesnick talked about the outdated step labs at the middle and high school, saying the infrequently used spaces, designed more than two decades ago, could soon be transformed into modern learning environments.

In response to board trustee Elana Shneyer’s question about state aid, Assistant Superintendent Danelle Placella explained that approximately 31 percent of all work proposed in the project scope would be eligible for NYS building aid.

"Over time, as funds are expended, we will be eligible for approximately $17.1 million in aid from New York State," Placella said.

Board of Education President Marjorie Schiff highlighted the "wide variety of viewpoints and expertise" of those on the Facilities Committee and their commitment to advancing educational opportunities in the most economically responsible way.

"This is an exciting time for our school district," Schiff said. "We will see some amazing transformation of spaces. We are doing it in a really responsible manner. We have a lot to be proud of and be excited about."

More information can be found here, including a link to send questions about the proposed improvements.