GREENE – In just two short weeks, the 2009-10 school year will be in full swing. For the time being, however, it is still hard-hat wearing, tool-toting construction workers, not students, who are the most common sight in the hallways of the Greene Central School District.
“We will be ready to open school on time,” assured Superintendent Gary Smith.
Despite the exposed ceilings, stacks of construction materials and the constant drone of heavy equipment, the district administrator is confident that things will be cleaned up, if not entirely competed by Sept. 9, when students are slated to return.
Contractors broke ground in June on the two-year, $36.1 million dollar capital improvement project, which will overhaul each building in the district as well as add new classroom space at the Intermediate School and an artificial turf field at the Middle School/High School campus.
While the district had hoped to have the field in use for the fall sports season, crews encountered what Smith called “unsuitable soils” and drainage issues shortly after the ground breaking which set the project timeline back. Now, it appears that the field won’t be ready for use until Oct. 1.
“Obviously, we had hoped to have that open by the first games,” Smith said. “But that was a very aggressive schedule that we set for ourselves.”
According to the superintendent, the school’s athletics department is taking the delay in stride. Boys soccer is currently utilizing space at Lions Park for their practices, and will likely have their first games there as well. Both the girl’s field hockey and soccer programs are making use of practice fields at the elementary school, where they too will have their opening home games.
The varsity, jayvee and modified football teams have been most displaced by the construction. All three are currently holding practices at the Greene Ball Flats, which the district turned over to the village and town earlier this year. Games will need to be held elsewhere, however.
“Our opening football games may be at some neighboring districts,” said Smith. They are particularly interested in working with districts that have artificial turf fields, he explained, because Greene doesn’t want to have a negative impact on the playing surface at whichever school allows them use of their facility.
“Other than the athletic field, we are on schedule,” the administrator reported, although that doesn’t mean it will be 100 percent business as usual throughout the district.
One area which will be impacted is the Intermediate school. Because of the expansion project, the building will be without a gymnasium until early spring, Smith explained.
In order to continue to meet state requirements in the absence of the gym, the school’s physical education will need to be “imaginative and flexible,” he said. That will include engaging in outside activities as long as weather permits, as well as using classrooms and hallways if necessary.
“Our physical education department has risen to the challenge of creating valuable lessons for the students,” Smith reported.
By far the largest portion of the capital project involves infrastructure improvements and upgrades throughout the district, including a new geo-thermal heating and ventilation system in the Middle/High school. While much of this work was begun this year, it will be at least another year before it is completed and online.
What does this mean for the district?
“We will have some ceilings that aren’t finished,” the superintendent said, as ductwork still needs to be installed. While most of the open ceilings will be in common areas such as lobbies and hallways, there will also be some offices and classrooms with missing sections of ceiling tiles as well.
Despite the unfinished appearance, life safety systems such as fire and smoke alarms, sprinklers and the security system will all be in place and operational before school begins.
“It will be safe for kids,” Smith assured.
Through the summer construction season, faculty and staff members across the district have been impacted by the ongoing work. At various points teachers have had to pack and unpack classrooms; maintenance and custodial workers, who are normally putting their final back-to-school polish on everything, have been thrown off schedule; and clerical staff and administrators have kept working away despite all the activity around them.
“I really appreciate their efforts,” he said. “Everyone has been very understanding.”
Smith has said that he feels as though this project will be his legacy to the Greene school district. He won’t, however, be around to see it through to completion. Earlier this year, he announced his intention to retire at the end of August. Friday will be his last day in the office.
The new superintendent, Jonathan Retz, who comes to Greene from the Letchworth Central School District in Wyoming County, will assume leadership of the district on Sept. 1.
“The project, and the district, are in good hands,” said Smith.