Despite delays, OV consolidation still expected for 2013-2014 school year
OTSELIC VALLEY – The Otselic Valley Central School District’s $17 million building project continues to move forward despite some minor setbacks. The project – approved by voters in September of 2011 – will see the district consolidating its elementary and Junior-Senior High schools, and OV Superintendent Richard Hughes said the move to one campus, in South Otselic, is still a go for the 2013-2014 school year.
“We finally received approval by our project manager for the structural component of the project in October,” reported Hughes in a prepared statement and update on the building project. “Since then we have received approval on the mechanical and plumbing ... we are still waiting approval on the electrical.”
Once the full expansion is completed, all students, K-12, will attend a single campus, while the elementary school – situated in Georgetown – will be converted into a transportation facility and community center. This year, in preparation for the consolidation, the district’s fifth and sixth graders were moved to the Junior-Senior High school, a move that brought a new energy and enthusiasm to the building, according to the adminstration.
The project has seen several delays, however, admitted Hughes.
“It’s been more than six months since our submission of all drawings and plans ... a long time for a review to occur but it has to do with the lack of staffing at the State Education Department (SED),” stated Hughes in his most recent ovcs.org update on the project. “As the state has cut the education budget to schools over the past few years, it has also significantly reduced the funding for SED operations, including facilities planning. Members of our team are on the phone everyday with Albany pushing to get final approval quickly on electrical so the project can receive full approval. Until that happens, we cannot go to bid or begin construction. That is the law and we have to follow the law just as any other public or private agency does.”
School officials have called the project a long-term solution to some of the district’s budget woes on more than one occasion, and it’s hoped the impact of the consolidation will have a positive impact on students for generations to come, said Hughes. Once completed, the new building will feature a K-2 wing; an overbuild that will see additional classrooms and large renovations to the existing Junior-Senior High school; a new cafeteria for elementary students; and a new K-12 library and fitness room, a first for the district.
The current elementary school will be completely re-designed as a transportation facility, while the historic section of the structure will be utilized as a community center, open to all.
Said Hughes, “Even with the delay, our projected construction schedule has us moving to one campus for the 2013-2014 school year. We will certainly have to make adjustments along the way just as we all do in our everyday lives. There are some rumors in the community concerning the transportation center not happening, but they are just rumors and untrue. We can not do the entire project without the transportation center.”
For more information, contact the district office at (315) 653-7218 or visit ovcs.org.
“We finally received approval by our project manager for the structural component of the project in October,” reported Hughes in a prepared statement and update on the building project. “Since then we have received approval on the mechanical and plumbing ... we are still waiting approval on the electrical.”
Once the full expansion is completed, all students, K-12, will attend a single campus, while the elementary school – situated in Georgetown – will be converted into a transportation facility and community center. This year, in preparation for the consolidation, the district’s fifth and sixth graders were moved to the Junior-Senior High school, a move that brought a new energy and enthusiasm to the building, according to the adminstration.
The project has seen several delays, however, admitted Hughes.
“It’s been more than six months since our submission of all drawings and plans ... a long time for a review to occur but it has to do with the lack of staffing at the State Education Department (SED),” stated Hughes in his most recent ovcs.org update on the project. “As the state has cut the education budget to schools over the past few years, it has also significantly reduced the funding for SED operations, including facilities planning. Members of our team are on the phone everyday with Albany pushing to get final approval quickly on electrical so the project can receive full approval. Until that happens, we cannot go to bid or begin construction. That is the law and we have to follow the law just as any other public or private agency does.”
School officials have called the project a long-term solution to some of the district’s budget woes on more than one occasion, and it’s hoped the impact of the consolidation will have a positive impact on students for generations to come, said Hughes. Once completed, the new building will feature a K-2 wing; an overbuild that will see additional classrooms and large renovations to the existing Junior-Senior High school; a new cafeteria for elementary students; and a new K-12 library and fitness room, a first for the district.
The current elementary school will be completely re-designed as a transportation facility, while the historic section of the structure will be utilized as a community center, open to all.
Said Hughes, “Even with the delay, our projected construction schedule has us moving to one campus for the 2013-2014 school year. We will certainly have to make adjustments along the way just as we all do in our everyday lives. There are some rumors in the community concerning the transportation center not happening, but they are just rumors and untrue. We can not do the entire project without the transportation center.”
For more information, contact the district office at (315) 653-7218 or visit ovcs.org.
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