When Huntington School District residents go to the polls on Tuesday, May 21 they will be able to vote on the budget proposition to fund operations during the 2013/14 school year, elect two trustees, establish a new building improvement fund and release monies held in the current building improvement fund.
Passage of the two building improvement fund propositions will not increase taxes since such capital reserve accounts include surplus monies already held by the district. The building improvement fund accounts can only be used to complete renovation and reconstruction projects authorized by the voters.
The fund allows the district to complete needed work without having to borrow money through bonding and incur interest expenses. The district applies for state aid reimbursement on any work completed.
Residents are being asked to release $1,715,500 from the current building improvement fund, which holds more than $5 million. If approved by voters, the newly released monies will cover the cost of projects in five different school buildings as well as allow the district to purchase the modular classroom complex currently being leased at Woodhull Intermediate School.
“We continue to execute a responsible capital plan that allows us to make needed improvements to district facilities in an incremental manner,” Superintendent James W. Polansky said. “As a result, our buildings remain well equipped, maintained and student-ready.”
Cost estimates for the proposed projects include expected charges for construction, contingencies and architectural and engineering services. The bidding process could result in lower actual expenses.
The proposed renovation and reconstruction projects include:
Finley boys’ and girls’ locker room renovation: Remove existing lockers, benches and ceramic base at the locker platforms; steam clean floors, prep and paint all walls; install 840 new physical education lockers and 187 new team lockers; install new ceramic base, new benches, new doors and hardware; fully renovate both shower areas and the girls’ rest room area and clean and paint the boys’ rest room area. Install new lighting in the girls’ locker room. (Installation of new lighting in the boys’ locker room has already been completed.) Estimated cost: $560,000.
Huntington High School girls’ locker room renovation: Remove existing lockers, benches and ceramic base at the locker platforms; steam clean floors, prep and paint all walls; install 840 new PE lockers and 53 new team lockers; install new ceramic base, new benches, new doors and hardware; fully renovate the shower and rest room areas. Estimated cost: $320,000.
Huntington High School library masonry wall repair and roof replacement: Remove masonry from the second floor windowsill down to the roof level below the entire length (2’-8”x41’); install new full-height through-wall flashing, counter-flashing and masonry with weep holes 2’ O.C.; Remove and replace flat roof over library addition (24’x41’); Install new flashing at wall intersection and new metal edge at the other three sides. Estimate cost: $75,000.
Huntington High School kitchen electrical upgrade: Replace original electrical panels in the basement hallway and kitchen area; provide new bus-tap and disconnect switch for kitchen panel feed. Estimated cost: $50,000.
Jack Abrams School oil tank replacement: Replace the original 15,000 gallon underground steel fuel oil storage tank with a new double-walled fiberglass tank, including all minor electrical work, alarms and safety devices as required by the Suffolk County Department of Health. Estimated cost: $192,500.
Jefferson School clock system replacement: Replace the problematic hard-wired centrally controlled clock system with a satellite controlled wireless clock system throughout the building. Estimated cost: $40,000.
Jefferson School stage wiring replacement: Abate and replace the asbestos-jacketed wiring as was done recently at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. Estimated cost: $26,000.
Woodhull School public address system replacement: Replace the older-type PA/intercom system throughout the building, in conformance with the previously designed project that was never awarded through bidding. Estimated cost: $120,000.
Polls will be open on Tuesday, May 21 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Huntington High School lobby. Contact District Clerk Elizabeth Troffa (673-2126 or etroffa@hufsd.edu) for more information.
