Published: August 31, 2009 11:18 pm      

SCHOOLS: Eastern Niagara districts building for the future

As it does every year, the start of school brings many new things. This fall, Eastern Niagara County students will see some changes to their schools, as three districts are on track to complete construction projects.

Two school districts, Lockport City Schools and Royalton-Hartland, are in the process of submitting their plans to the state education department for review. One local district, Wilson, did not have any construction projects this summer but did complete a $8 million project last year. Improvements were made to the main entrances of the schools, air conditioning was installed and the middle-high school library and media center had been renovated and expanded.

• In the Barker Central School District, a new track surface is on its way. The rubber that had been on the track was worn out and, despite constant patching, had started to come off, Superintendent Roger Klatt said.

“It’s a 25-year-old track with a rubber surface that kept breaking up,” he said. “The new surface is polyurethane, it’s an all-weather track.”

Klatt said the schools’ roof has been replaced and some work done in the parking lot. Previously, before the $1.5 million project was started, the lot had some drainage and lighting issues. New curbing was added, and the drainage was fixed. New lights were put in to illuminate the parking lot at night.

The district also had $50,000 worth of work done on three tennis courts, but that was through the donation of a community member. Klatt said the entire project was paid for without bonding or taking on debt, instead paid for with a capital project reserve approved by voters in May. All work will be completed before the start of school next week.

• Superintendent Gary Pogorzelski said Newfane is pretty close to completion of its $7.2 million project. Most of the work took place at the middle school, including the updating of the electrical system and plumbing. Both were put in originally around 1949 when the school was built. Any minor work remaining will be completed this fall.

Pogorzelski said state aid, especially EXCEL building aid, helped the district make the necessary repairs. That was a reason why the state began the EXCEL aid program a couple of years ago, also a reason why so many districts are going capital improvement projects.

“We’re really excited; the whole process has made our buildings better for the kids and the community,” Pogorzelski said. “We were able to take advantage of state aid.”

• Starpoint has completed roof work on each of its four buildings as part of its $14.9 million project. Superintendent C. Douglas Whelan said last week about 200 classrooms districtwide have had InFocus projectors installed. At Starpoint Intermediate, two computer labs have been added and should be completed before the first day of school, Tuesday. The middle school auditorium’s lights, stage rigging and curtain have all been replaced, and air conditioning has been added.

Last year Starpoint had finished work on a new music wing, connecting Fricano Elementary School with the district’s other buildings.

Lockport will submit the plans for its $23.5 million project to the state by Sept. 9. Improvements will be made to the high school, including a six-classroom addition and a new fitness center. The district plans to break ground and start construction next summer.

• Roy-Hart Superintendent Kevin McDonald said the district has submitted the plans for the first phase of Roy-Hart’s $8.3 million capital project. The first phase includes a 10-classroom addition to the elementary school that would be used by Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Services. The second phase, improvements made to the middle and high schools, is being put together right now. McDonald said the project architect, McKenna and Associates, believes the entire project will be completed September 2010.

EASTERN NIAGARA CAPITAL PROJECTS

• BARKER: Work should be completed this fall

• LOCKPORT: Plans should be submitted Sept. 9

• NEWFANE: Minor work to be completed this fall

• ROY-HART: Phase 1 plans submitted to state

• STARPOINT: Work should be completed this fall

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.