At the Oct. 3 meeting of the Guilderland Central School District board of education, Clifford Nooney, Director of Facilities, updated the board on the status of the two capital improvement projects currently in progress in the district.
May 2019 capital project
The $30.7M capital improvement project voters approved in May 2019, which prioritized infrastructure, security and technology, is nearing completion. The following improvements have been made:
- New fuel island, Transportation
- New bus lifts, Transportation
- Window replacements, AES, GHS, WES
- Gym floors refinished, AES, GES, WES; gym floor replaced, FMS
- Public address system, fire alarm system, emergency lights installation, district-wide
- Unit ventilator replacements, GHS, FMS, LES
- Upgrades to science wing, GHS
- Upgrades to east locker rooms, GHS
- Paving, FMS, GHS, Transportation
- Renovation of nurse’s suite, LES
- Boiler replacements, FMS, LES, PBES
- Roof replacement, PBES
- New security camera installation, district-wide
Oct. 2021 capital project
The $21.8M capital improvement project voters approved in October 2021 prioritized improving infrastructure, outdoor spaces and instructional technology. Despite challenges posed by supply chain issues and weather, this facilities improvement project is progressing at a considerable pace and GCSD is already experiencing a benefit to the installation of a turf field at GHS. Although the capital region has seen significant rainfall this past summer and fall, use of the field has not been impacted; in fact, it’s been greatly increased. “The new turf field has been a lifesaver this year,” said Mr. Nooney. “If we did not have that field this particular summer, we would have had some problems. Because of all of the rain, there is a field at Farnsworth Middle School that is so wet, we have not been able to mow or paint it for modified sports. Fortunately, we have moved those athletes to the turf field; we’re getting our money’s worth.”
Completed work
- New turf field installation and track replacement, GHS
- Over 170 Promethean Boards installed, with more than 100 wall-mounted on height-adjustable balance boxes to accommodate varying grade levels
- Outdoor learning pavilions
- FMS, GES, WES near completion; AES, GHS, LES, PBES work is ongoing
- Casework (cabinetry, shelving, cupboards, etc.), GES, WES
- Auditorium bathroom renovation, GHS
- Paving, FMS, GHS
- Roof coating, FMS
- Roof replacement, GHS
Remaining project scope
Altamont Elementary School
- Casework in rooms 201, 202, 208, 209, 210
- Sewage ejection pump
Guilderland Elementary School
- Three HVAC units in nurse’s suite
Lynnwood Elementary School
- Casework in rooms 107-114
- Unit ventilators with condensers and exhaust fans in rooms 404-412
Westmere Elementary School
- Lockers
Farnsworth Middle School
- Technology lab renovation: paint and new ceiling
- 200 and 300 wing bathrooms renovation; 100 wing bathrooms installation of toilet partitions, accessories, doors, paint, fire alarm devices
- Nurse’s suite mechanical upgrades: new fin tube, indoor split unit and exhaust fan
- Ten gym blower coil units
- Unit ventilator replacements in music room
Guilderland High School
- Bathroom renovation in room 136/138
- Window replacements
- Roof recovery board replacement and re-seam
- Three energy recovery units for cafeteria
- Four HVAC units for band room, tech room and Large Group Instructional (LGI) room
Always working to be future-ready
Upon the completion of Mr. Nooney’s presentation, the board discussed items for a potential future capital improvement project, including improvements to the GHS music space and necessary infrastructure improvements to prepare for the use of electric school buses. On April 7, 2022, the New York state legislature passed a statewide mandate stating that, starting in 2027, all new school bus purchases must be electric and school districts’ entire bus fleets must be electric by 2035. Like many other NYS school districts, GCSD will have to make infrastructure changes and improvements to meet this mandate, which may necessitate a future capital improvement project. The district is in the preliminary stages of conducting fact-gathering and research.
Watch Mr. Nooney’s capital improvement project update to the board of education.