Last week architect Thomas Ritzenthaler, of CS Arch, took members of the Marlboro School Board and the Administration on a walking tour of the Middle School, showing the upgrades and changes that his company is proposing as part of the district’s Capital Facilities Plan, called Vision 2020.

Superintendent Michael Brooks said the district’s “paramount responsibility” is to support the student’s learning environment coupled with fostering fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers.

Brooks said the district has done a great job in maintaining the facilities over the last several decades.

“We have a tremendous facilities and operations group led by Larry Cavazza that takes extraordinary pride in making sure things work, that things look good, that things smell good, that things sound good. That’s just what they do, it’s in their core and I thank you very much for that, Mr. Cavazza.”

Brooks said the time has come, however, for the district to consider making improvements to ensure the sound operation of their physical plant. He pointed out that the board has to refine what work they deem essential and how the district will pay for it because this outlay would not be part of the regular annual operating budget.

Weeks ago, Ritzenthaler began reviewing the district’s 2015 Building Condition Survey, evaluating the work that had been completed and analyzing what remains to be done. He has also discussed additional work that he feels the district should be considering.

Ritzenthaler has revised the budgets on all of the items suggested in the 2015 survey, “to reflect current regional market conditions.” He has confirmed the “current space utilization and identified deficiencies in the use of space as per the NYS Education Department standards.

Ritzenthaler has been considering the district’s educational goals and new initiatives and is developing options to meet those needs. He will be prioritizing the list of capital recommendations and develop budget estimates for each option. He will review for the board all possible funding sources, such as state building aid, and will make sure the project meets the mandates of the State Environmental Quality Review Act [SEQRA].

Ritzenthaler highlighted some of the school’s upcoming needs; ensuring safe building access with secured entrances and vestibules; providing suitable spaces for Guidance, Psychology, Speech and Nursing services; having the appropriate space/amenities for the Physical Education Department, starting with the replacement of old lockers; provide flexible food offerings that will transform the current cafeteria space into a student dining facility; update and provide easier access to the bathroom facilities for students and staff and replace overall systems that are beyond their useful lifespan.

Ritzenthaler said site access at the Middle School, both vehicular and pedestrian, must be addressed in light of the impacts of the proposed residential Bayside housing project that is to be built on a site bordering the northern side of the school’s property. He suggested that the main entrance of the school be made at the ground level entrance, instead of having access via the current stairwell. A new Chorus/Band room is being considered as well as moving the Innovation Lab up from the basement to the main floor of the building. He also noted that upgrades to the fire safety systems in the building are needed.

Ritzenthaler said at the March 21st board meeting he will be presenting his final recommendations. If these are acceptable, the school board would have to decide by their April 4th meeting in order to allow for the required 45 day public comment period, so a public vote on the upgrades could take place on May 21st, the same day as the 2019-20 school budget vote. If approved Ritzenthaler would begin the design process for the improvements that would then be sent to the NYS Department of Education for their detailed review and approval. He said to avoid the typical 7 month review, he suggested having an outsource review done that would take from 4 to 8 weeks. This would allow for a public bid process for the work by early March 2020 and construction could begin that spring. He said the work would stretch out over two summers, with a final closeout by October 2021.

Brooks highlighted what will be before the school board in the immediate future.

“Over the next four board meetings we’re going to be spending a concentrated amount of time looking and talking about plans and walking around schools to show you some things that we have decided need to be brought to the public and to this board of education to say, here’s some stuff and what do we want to do about it as a community,” he said.