The Plainview-Old Bethpage (POB) School District community recently approved the district’s $49.8 million bond referendum to help fund various infrastructure improvement projects throughout each building in the POB School District. Upgrades include the replacement of original windows, ceilings and floor tiles; upgrades to the current security system and energy efficiency projects.
“We are greatly appreciative for all of the feedback and support from the Plainview-Old Bethpage community as we navigated this process,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lorna Lewis. “The planned school improvements will help us build upon our safe and efficient educational environment as we continue to nurture and ensure the success of our students.”
Named “Building Futures Together,” the construction program will encompass seven schools and two other buildings owned by the district. Construction work will be performed in four phases, which will prevent interruptions to educational activities.
The bond process began in July when members of the community and POB staff were appointed to a Facilities Upgrades and Improvements Advisory Committee. The committee worked with the district’s architect, BBS Architects, to finalize a list of necessary improvements to better serve the needs of POB students. Committee members analyzed a full list of proposed upgrades, took tours of the buildings to analyze each suggested project and received community input at a public forum and several board meetings before finalizing a prioritized list of facility updates.
BBS Architects, Landscape Architects and Engineers is serving as architect, interior designer, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineer, civil engineer and site and athletic field designer for the construction program.
“The construction program will include building envelope renovations that aim at improving energy efficiency, classroom and other interior renovations, safety and security upgrades, new technology, renovations of outdoor sports facilities, and infrastructure and building systems upgrades,” said BBS Architects principal architect Roger Smith. “Energy efficiency improvements will result in annual savings of approximately $239,000 for the school district.”
The district’s buildings, most of which were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, currently feature original, outdated single-pane windows, which are very energy inefficient. The need to address this issue, necessity to reduce the district’s energy costs and desire to upgrade safety and security throughout all buildings occupied by students were the main factors that led to the development of the improvement program. Annual savings obtained through specific energy use-related upgrades will include approximately $110,000 from new LED lighting fixtures, $60,000 from new temperature control systems, $59,000 from new double pane, insulated glazing windows and $9,600 from 50-kw rooftop solar panels.
In addition to energy efficiency improvements, all educational buildings will receive comprehensive security upgrades, which will include interior and exterior IP cameras, expanded interior and exterior lighting, motion detectors, lockdown strobe lights, lockdown PA tie-in, lockdown IP phone, lockdown card access disable feature, new door hardware that locks doors from the inside of classrooms and lockdown mass notification system. The district’s leadership and security personnel will have the capability to initiate security lockdown procedures from cell phones. Safety improvements will also include fire alarm upgrades.
“Work will begin in the summer of 2015, once the school year is over, and is expected to be completed in 2018. The majority of work, such as the replacement of all windows, masonry repairs and other building envelope improvements, must be completed during warm weather,” said Frederick Seeba, BBS Senior Associate and director of Engineering & Technology, P.E., LEED AP. “There will be no interruptions to educational activities as each phase of the construction program will be completed during a summer break.”
For more information regarding the bond approval process and the list of projects to be completed, visit www.pobschools.org.
