Board Weighs Additional Construction Under $28M Bond

Hauppauge Board of Education Trustees are facing decision on the best use of $1.4 million remaining under the $28 capital projects to benefit students, faculty and taxpayers alike. 

James Stucchio, assistant superintendent for Business and Operations, gave a presentation to the Board of Education Tuesday night that laid out the expected prices for four various options under Bond Phase III, 

“We had cost savings due to lower construction costs. In this economic environment,  bids came in to our favor, so we have $1.4 million in construction costs we can allocate if the board so chooses,” Stucchio said.

Based on previous recommendations of school architect John Grillo at the J, the assistant laid out the estimated costs of four potential options.

One proposal, Option A, focused on further renovations and replacements in the high school and middle school to make areas similar to the new construction. It proposes $191,151 to replace ceiling and lighting in the middle school auditorium and its lobby, the corridor near the assistant principle’s office and a stairway as was done throughout the building this past summer.

In addition, it suggests replacing windows in the gym to increase ventilation, after several were covered in construction of the new music and science addition for roughly $210,000.

Option A also includes replacing windows in the cafeteria would be replaced, not done during the expansion, and replacing all ceiling hung ultraviolet sanitizing units in the high school. Overall, Option A would cost approximately $848,000, Stucchio said. 

In order to make these renovations and replacements, the Board would not need to go back to the voter’s for approval.

The second option the board is considering involves renovating three high school science labs, used mostly for earth science. These rooms were only science rooms not renovated under the current $28 million project. Two home and career rooms at Hauppauge Middle School would also be updated. The total estimated costs of renovating these five rooms is $1.2 million and would require voter approval this May. 

Option C was researched for consideration by the Board on Jan. 4 calls for asphalt repaving throughout the district. School that would benefit include the high school’s north parking lot, Pine Elementary School’s main parking lot along Holly Drive, and Bretton Wood’s exit drive.  These areas would cost $2.4 million, more than the $1.4 million available. Board members indicated areas may be considered on a case by case basis in the future. 

A fourth Option D offered refurbishing the high school auditorium seats with replacement for those in the upper area at a total of approximately $244,000 to match ongoing renovations.

Stucchio said he encouraged the board to see how the 2011-2012 budget works out before they decided. The $1.4 million can be used to pay down the district’s future debt service rather than further construction.