Building, Renovation Bond Assumes Final Shape

From Pelham School District: The Pelham Board of Education has decided on a final bond scope for the May 15 referendum. The final ballot propositions, inclusive of final costs, are slated for approval at the Board’s next meeting on Tuesday, March 27.

In addition to the new Hutchinson School, the Board on March 6 decided to include the renovation of District offices to create additional classroom space at the middle and high schools, and replacing the PMHS annex roof and parapets/masonry repointing at Pelham Middle School in the bond proposal.

After reviewing updated information at the meeting on March 13, the Board decided to include ADA accessibility and security upgrades at Prospect Hill, including the installation of an elevator, lift to the gym, toilet room renovations, creation of a ground-level entryway to the school and construction of a double-door security vestibule at the main entrance.

Additionally, the Board decided not to include replacement of the middle school HVAC units in the bond proposal, owing to the recommendation of experts that the expected useable life of these units was 5-10 more years. The Board also refined the proposals for athletic facilities upgrades.

The final scope of projects will be separated into two separate propositions that will appear on the May 15 ballot. Proposition A may be approved on its own, or in conjunction with Proposition B. Proposition B may only be approved if Proposition A is also approved. Final costs will be shared when the ballot propositions are presented for action by the Board on March 27. The District is working with its architect and financial advisor to maximize the amount of state building aid received and will share the estimated net local share of the bond to be paid by taxpayers in the coming weeks.

The projects included in each proposition are as follows:

Proposition A:

• New Hutchinson School
• Accessibility and security upgrades at Prospect Hill Elementary School
• Renovation at MS/HS to provide additional classrooms, an orchestra rehearsal room, and science room upgrades
• Replacement of roof and parapets on the PMHS Annex and masonry repointing at Pelham Middle School

Proposition B:

• Tennis court replacement at Glover Complex
• Turfing of baseball fields Varsity, A and B at Glover Complex
• Irrigation and renovation of Prospect Hill Field

“This bond proposal is the culmination of nearly 18 months of study, more than 50 community engagement sessions, and countless hours of work put in by the Board, our administration, and the District’s architects, construction manager, and environmental consultant,” said Board of Education President Madeline Smith. “In developing the bond, we have collectively sought to address concerns related to the District’s capacity, infrastructure, and security. We continue to strive to support the goals of our Strategic Plan, while being mindful of the burden shouldered by us all as taxpayers.”

With the bond proposal finalized, the District will soon be sharing its finalized 15-year Capital Improvement Plan that will recommend projects to address long-term goals, such as making all schools fully accessible, providing for projected enrollment, and further enhancing 21st Century Learning Opportunities.

“Throughout our many conversations with community members, one of the ideas that has clearly resonated was to create a long-term plan for maintaining and improving our facilities,” said Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ. “We believe that planning for future needs as part of a strategic vision for our school buildings and facilities will allow future boards to continue our commitment to excellence for our students.”

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