School district unveils comprehensive capital improvement plan

Newfield Central School District (CSD) has announced a comprehensive capital improvement project set for a public vote on March 12. The initiative, encompassing significant upgrades across four key areas, aims to enhance safety, accessibility and infrastructure within the district without imposing additional tax burdens on Newfield residents or those who reside within the Newfield school district.

This ambitious project will be financed through the use of the capital reserve fund, comprising earmarked taxpayer contributions and state aid. The scope of work spans enhancements at the middle/high school and elementary school campuses, renovations to the bus garage and extensive site improvements.

At the middle/high school, the district plans to introduce a secure entrance with a dedicated check-in window, establish a new counseling office suite, install air conditioning in the gymnasium, refurbish existing restrooms and upgrade the public address and notification systems, among other significant interior and exterior renovations.

According to Newfield CSD Superintendent Eric Hartz,  a portion of the library will be repurposed to accommodate the new high school office. The existing office will become a middle/high school counseling suite.

Elementary school improvements are similarly focused on security and infrastructure, including enhanced access control at exterior doors, fire safety upgrades and general renovations to ensure a safe environment conducive to learning.

The renovation of the bus garage, which was originally built in 1976, represents the project’s most substantial component. The plans for this project include modernizing security and communication systems, installing electric bus-charging stations in anticipation of a greener fleet and overhauling the facility’s structural and mechanical elements to support future needs. 

Hartz said that the renovation is designed with the electrification of the school bus fleet in mind, aligning with state objectives for all school buses to be electric by 2035. Newfield CSD has applied for and received a $1.2 million EPA rebate — one of 21 schools in New York state to receive this rebate.

“We have three electric buses coming this summer,” said Hartz. “Everything we are doing right now will be able to hold a fleet of 16 electric buses.”

Hartz said that the goal by 2035 is to have 14 regular electric buses and two small electric buses. Currently, the school district has one hybrid van. 

The last part of this project is site work, which addresses infrastructure and access issues across the district, with plans for parking lot and driveway reconstruction, stormwater management enhancements and sports facility upgrades. According to Hartz, these improvements are designed to mitigate longstanding groundwater issues that have affected parking and athletic fields.

Sports facility upgrades within the project include the redirection of electrical services, the construction of a two-way road, the addition of a curbed sidewalk and the installation of concrete gutters for better drainage. The redesigned stadium parking area will feature 175 parking spots, including six spaces designated for accessibility, all set on a gravel surface.

Track upgrades will incorporate the application of a structural spray coating, the maintenance of the current trench drain and the erection of a new 4-foot fence equipped with a guardrail. Additionally, the tennis facilities will be expanded to include a pickleball court, which will also be enclosed by a 4-foot fence. The project does not include resurfacing these courts.

The project timeline includes a public hearing on March 5, offering community members an opportunity to learn more about the proposed improvements, following the public vote on March 12 between noon and 9 p.m. The district anticipates progressing with the bus garage electrification through the summer of 2025, with completion expected by early 2026.

“This is a pure upkeep, safety, building project,” said Hartz.

In brief:

Town Board work session

The Newfield Town Board holds a work session on the fourth Thursday of the month. The next meeting is on Feb. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Newfield Town Hall. The meeting can be attended in person or on Zoom.

NYS High School clay target league info session

There will be an information session for parents and students Feb. 26 from 6:30 p.m. at the Newfield Rod & Gun Club. This league is open to students in grades 6 through 12, but participants must be at least 12 years old by March 20, 2024.

Afterschool special

All Newfield Middle School students are invited to the library after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. to participate in a scheduled activity or find a quiet space to do homework.

Board of Education meeting

The Newfield Board of Education hosts meetings on the first and third Thursdays of the month. There will be meetings on March 7 and March 21 in the Weaver Conference Room in the elementary school.