DISTRICTS READYING FOR FALL

Many school districts in the north country have taken advantage of significant state aid for construction projects, making several of the upgrades ready for students this fall.

The majority of the projects is being paid for through Expanding Our Children's Education and Learning aid, which in many cases exceeds 85 percent of construction costs.

Voters in some districts have approved entire projects that will not require any local taxes.

The Watertown City School District is in the midst of its second capital construction project in the last two years.

Over the summer, the district has completed major renovations to Starbuck Elementary School and the pool at H.T. Wiley Intermediate School.

"At Starbuck, the renovations that are being conducted are really in regard to energy efficiency," said Terry N. Fralick, district superintendent. "It's getting large-scale renovations."

Starbuck is receiving the majority of the work in the district, with about $4.1 million of the $16.3 million being spent there.

So far this summer, contractors have completed asbestos abatement and renovations on one wing of the school.

"Classrooms will be closed off in one wing, and then in December we will be moving students and staff into the finished wing so the contractors can complete the other wing," Mr. Fralick said. "We're excited for the renovations at Starbuck and we look forward to April, when the entire school will be on line."

New windows, doors, bathrooms, flooring, lighting, electrical work and fire alarms and reconstruction of the library and gym will be completed at the school by April.

"There is a lot of more energy-efficient mechanical equipment being installed," Mr. Fralick said. "These are important facilities that we need to maintain, but besides that we're trying to make them more environmentally sound and more energy efficient."

Mr. Fralick said plans for the rest of the project, which includes many of the same mechanical and electrical upgrades and a 10-classroom addition at Ohio Elementary, will be completed and sent for state approval in the next couple of weeks.

The Carthage Central School District's $21.2 million project will be done by the time students start school.

The district's artificial-turf field was completed last week, which will allow athletes and students in physical education classes to practice later into the fall and earlier in the spring, said interim Superintendent Joseph M. Catanzaro.

A fifth-grade wing has been constructed at the middle school because the district has decided to move pupils to middle school earlier.

There has been construction on one of the wings at the high school to make way for the new ninth-grade academies, and the gym is being renovated.

The only thing that will not be available for students in the fall is the new Olympic-size swimming pool.

"The bad weather in the winter caused the contractors to push back the opening of the pool until the end of October," Mr. Catanzaro said. "We'll continue to use the old swimming pool until the new one is ready."

When the new pool opens, the old pool will be covered and will become the new fitness center, he said.

The Potsdam Central School District is finishing work on its $21.8 million capital construction project.

In the high school, three science rooms have been renovated to "provide the latest materials and equipment for our students to use," said Superintendent Patrick H. Brady.

The front entrance of the building has been renovated to include administration offices, a nurse's station and guidance offices.

"It will enhance security at the school as there will be card readers for staff, and it will give us the ability to shut down the high school doors to allow for only one access point into the building," he said.

The artificial-turf field has been completed, along with renovations to the third- and fourth-grade wing and new curbs and parking lots.

Massena Central School District's $29 million project includes four new classrooms in each elementary school, renovations in the junior high school and upgrades to the football field.

Interim Superintendent Roger B. Clough II declined to comment on the project because he said information will be shared with the public at the Board of Education meeting today.

The majority of Sackets Harbor Central School District's $3.8 million project will be completed by the time students return to school.

The project includes new windows, doors, heaters, shelving and flooring, a new entrance to the elementary wing and a new administration office.

There has been asbestos abatement, the library has been reconfigured and the athletic fields will be upgraded and completed by the end of next summer.

The first phase of Madrid-Waddington Central School District's $7.3 million project will be complete by the end of this month. The elementary roof has been replaced, there is new flooring, and asbestos abatement has been completed in the high school rooms.

"We need to maintain a healthy and safe facility for our children, and the brunt of that is being done with the new tiles and floors and roof," said Superintendent Lynn M. Roy. "We're hoping this will help with motivation of students and presentation of instruction."

Hermon-DeKalb Central School District's $6.3 million project is in its second and final year.

It includes playground replacement, leveling of athletic fields, a new gymnasium scoreboard, masonry work, ceiling replacement, sidewalk repair and plumbing upgrades, said Superintendent Ann M. Adams.

"Most of the project was for the health and safety of our students and energy efficiency," Mrs. Adams said. "When you're looking at roofs that are leaking, it's imperative you fix them."

The bulk of Gouverneur Central School District's $12.5 million project also will be completed this summer.

The project includes heating and plumbing upgrades, roof replacement, renovation of elementary classrooms, a new driveway and replacement of bleachers and the athletic track.

Lisbon Central School District's $4 million project, which includes building improvements and upgrades to the athletic fields, also will be completed this summer.

The Canton Central School District is also fixing its pool for about $495,000, with work to be completed by Oct. 15.

See DISTRICTS' B5

Districts' projects...