School Construction Updates Focus of Board Meeting

* This story was updated at 12:34 on 9.13.12.

Ongoing school construction projects were the top of focus at the Long Beach Board of Education meeting at Lindell School on Tuesday.

Lido Elementary School will have a separate entrance for pre-K and elementary school students, and a new library media center and main lobby will replace the cafeteria at the school, said architect Thomas Ritzenthaler of the Albany-based firm CSArch, who was on hand to update the community on the continuing construction.

Ritzenthaler said that additional windows would be installed around the school to allow for more natural light and to lessen the dependence on artificial energy. “All windows are hurricane and impact rated,” he noted. “It was a building requirement.”

Lido Middle School will also receive more windows, as well as a new library media center, central administration office and nurse’s suite. The auditorium lobby is being renovated to include more accessible bathrooms and a ticketing and coat check area.

The Lido Complex is expected to be completed in September 2013, according to Michael DeVito, the district's chief operating officer.

The Long Beach High School is also undergoing construction. When completed, the school will feature expanded parking, new bike racks, a renovated administration/guidance block and a new tiled lobby and main multipurpose sports field.

During the meeting, Trustee Darlene Tangney expressed concern that the scoreboard on the field may impact surrounding homes due to its height and brightness.

Ritzenthaler explained that there would be vegetation to buffer on the western and southern end of the field. “This includes the retaining wall, a buffer, and a minimum of a 15-foot Evergreen tree,” he added. “This will visually and acoustically separate the school from the outside properties.”

Tangney also voiced concern about the upkeep of the tile finishing on the floor of the high school’s new lobby, especially when winter arrives and students drag snow inside.

“Tile is a very easy material to maintain,” Ritzenthaler tried to assure her. “You just use soap and water on it, and it’s good to go. It’s going to clean up very easily.”

The new additions to the high school are slated for completion by late November. The projects are part of a $98.9 million bond proposal to fund a master preservation plan to upgrade the district's aging facilities that voters approved in May 2009.

A few Long Beach residents raised concerns – on construction and other issues – at the meeting:

• Michael Abneri, who lives behind the Lido Complex on Regent Drive, asked the board to remind contractors to adhere to the agreed-upon times of construction, stating that on some days they have started earlier than 7 a.m. He expressed concerns about security issues, since the new entrance will be located near his home, and asked if the entrance will be fenced in. Ritzenthaler said that matter is still being discussed.

• Darlene Haut, president of the Lido Homes Civic Association who lives
  on Blackheath Road, requested that the board provide more clearly
  written minutes of their meetings so that parents who can’t attend
  them can better understand the issues that were discussed. She also
  expressed concern that the new bike rack at the high school would be
  an eye soar for surrounding residents if located outside the entrance
  of the high school. Ritzenthaler responded that the bike rack will not
  be visible from the road.

• Steve Freeman, president of the Long Beach Classroom Teachers Association, said that he believes AuSSI, a private elementary and secondary education-consulting firm involved in the district's elementary school literacy curriculum, is an economic drain on the district. Board members appeared divided on the need for the program, and the issue was tabled until an agreement can be reached.

• Gerry Maquet, co-chair of the Central Council PTA, asked that parents receive more advanced notice when opportunities arise to volunteer and join committees in the district. She believes parents need more time to decide if they can make commitments. She also requested that important events not overlap with each other, stating that she had to miss a middle school PTA meeting because the board meeting was scheduled at the same time.
  
  

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