Greenport School District Pitches $29.8M Capital Improvement Plan

GREENPORT, NY — The Greenport Union Free School District could have big changes in store: During a special board of education meeting Tuesday night, proposed plans for a $29.8 million capital project were unveiled.

Those who attended the meeting, which was held in the Greenport Schools auditorium, were able to view a Power Point outlining the capital improvement plan, which includes proposed upgrades to the facility's infrastructure as well as enhancements to the educational environment.

"This capital project addresses a wide range of safety and infrastructure needs of our school district. It is comprehensive and provides much needed improvements in all major aspects of the student learning experience," said Greenport Schools Superintendent David Gamberg. "It will serve the students and staff and the Greenport community for many, many years to come."

Beginning in November, meetings were held staff and committee to garner input.

According to the district, the proposed plan focuses on components including security upgrades, educational and administrative space upgrades, community and athletics and infrastructure and building preservation.

Specifically, proposed security upgrades include new exterior security cameras; replacement of interior doors and hardware; a replacement of the PA/clock system to include mass notification.

Proposed educational and administrative space upgrades would include a new auxiliary gymnasium, new auto and wood shops, with some classrooms and administrative offices moved.

The plan also addresses community and athletics, with a new track planned, as well as a new synthetic turf field, a new scoreboard, new bleachers, a new concession stand and a new press box.

Also proposed is a new playground, repaving of the parking area, additional parking added, and reconstruction of both the tennis courts and fields, including irrigation.

In the category of infrastructure and building preservation, proposed plans include upgrades to student toilets and bathrooms; replacement of some floors; replacement of corridor lockers; replacement of hung ceiling systems; interior plaster repairs; masonry repairs to eliminate water infiltration; replacement of various concrete walks; replacement of the main building sign; replacement of the irrigation well; refurbishment of the gym and locker room rooftop unit to improve ventilation; lockers and flooring replaced in the boys' and girls' locker rooms; replacement of remainder of gym bleachers; replacement of the 1971 main power supply feed; replacement of older power panels and addition of panels for increased use of computers; replacement of light fixtures with LED to reduce energy consumption and replacement costs; installation of a new, 100 kw generator to power the boiler, freezers, telephone and main computer server; and replacement of all floor-mounted univents to improve ventilation to meet current NYSED requirements.

The project would utilize two sources of funding, including $775,000 to be appropriated from the capital reserve fund, and $29,100,000 from the issuance of bonds, for a total bond proposition amount of $29,875,000, district officials said.

According to the district, if the bond proposition passes, the tax impact on the average household assessed at $6,400 would be $799 annually for bonds totaling $29,100,000.

Next steps, the district said, include garnering additional input, the adoption of a final plan and ballot proposition by the BOE, and a vote scheduled for sometime in June.

Patch file photo.