Early Timeline Given for Proposed Bedford Schools Renovations

A recommended timeline was given Wednesday for how the Bedford Central School District should proceed with discussing a proposed series of massive renovations for the schools, which includes feedback from the board and public, along with a possible bond vote early next year.

During his update to the board, Assistant Superintendent for Business Mark Betz outlined the dates and gave his recommendations with how to proceed, which are part of the district’s Capital Plan for infrastructure and buildings.

The proposals, first pitched by the district’s Capital Planning Committee , will get school board members’ feedback at their Sept. 21 meeting, along with public feedback during community survey and input sessions in October. Those public sessions will also explore a broader, Consolidated Plan – the Capital Plan is part of it - which is an expansive list of goals for how to support the district’s finances, services and infrastructure, in a similar way to the “Focus” sessions that we held during budget planning sessions in 2010 and 2011.

A report on the public’s reponses to the proposed capital projects would be presented by Nov. 30, according to Betz, and he recommends holding a bond vote for the projects, which cost more than $60 million combined, in late February or early March. If such a time frame is agreed to, it would represent the school district’s most ambitious bond vote since approval of a $67.7 million measure in 2002, which included major additions and renovations to Fox Lane High School, Mount Kisco Elementary School and Pound Ridge Elementary School.

In his presentation, Betz gave a recap of the committee’s proposals, measures that he called “belly of the beast type projects” due to their infrastructural importance.

The projects include a major overhaul to West Patent Elementary School, which would include replacements to the roof, exterior finish, wood posts, concrete slabs and fixing drainage problems; moisture damage has been the bane of the building’s four-decade existence.

Betz also highlighted the committee’s recommended option for the broader renovation of West Patent, which would involve preserving the current footprint and replacing interior infrastructure. This plan would cost a total of $27.57 million, although other plans looked at, such as tearing down two wings and redistributing the classroom space with a two-story addition, have not been ruled out by the district, Betz explained. He added that other ideas for West Patent could still be put forward.

The other major project involves science lab renovations at Fox Lane Middle School, along with an entry access improvement, and upgrades to windows, the roof, walls and plumbing. A rehabilitation of the front entrance is also called for, and the project costs a total of $15.84 million. Other notable, although smaller-scale projects include “Priority 1” fixes at other schools, including work on boilers, lighting, asbestos removal, window and veneer replacements and including Americans With Disabilities Act accessibility. The measures total $13.37 million. Roof replacements totaling $7.62 million are also included in the plans.

After his recap, Betz went on to note several issues that have not been fully addressed, including whether or not should be decided on, the status of the aging Fox Lane campus septic system and replacements in the not-to-distant future for the high school turf field and track.