Delays with New York State Education Department approval could push back a $7 million plan for improvements at the Hampton Street and Mineola High schools.
The school district had filed the Hampton plans with the state Education Department in September, prior to a November capital reserve vote that saw district resident approve the usage of the funds 442-162.
Mineola plans to install turf fields at both schools. Hampton would gain a new cafeteria, classroom additions and a bus loop along with a concession stand, running track and field lighting. The high school is slated for a new technology lab, combining metal and wood shop with computer design.
“We’ve had several meetings with [administrators] in trying to establish a timeline and a plan moving forward,” District Superintendent Michael Nagler said at a recent school board meeting.
Plans to build the technology lab, as well as a turf field and new track at the high school have not been filed with New York State. But Nagler said the 4-8 week approval time bodes well for high school plan.
The district may file the two high school plans separately, which could set a track renovation start for June 2016. Mineola is mulling a high school lobby ceiling renovation as part of the plan, stating a revamp is long overdue.
“The 1960s circular lights become echo chambers when you stand under them and it’s appropriate to look at a small project and tie it with the field,” Nagler said.
The district could have the Hampton project approved just before the proposed high school plan is finished by September.
“We’d shift all [football] practices and games to the turf field at the high school during the Hampton work,” Nagler said. “We may be displaced for one home game.”
The Hampton project would begin in October and finish by January 2017.
“The whole intention here is not to have two fields approved in November and not have either one a year later,” Nagler said.
Mineola coaches lobbied the board to widen the high school field from 55 to 65 yards. While the larger field would create more flexibility for soccer, it would encroach on the baseball field, which faces design hurdles of its own.
“We should do it right,” school board trustee Nicole Matzer said.
The baseball diamond’s infield dips down at its rear and floods when it rains. The outfield would need to be leveled and a new underground drainage system installed, along with two retaining walls, totaling $200,000 in additional construction costs.
“Having played on the baseball field the last couple of years, it is an issue going back on pop ups,” trustee Brian Widman said. “There’s puddling after minor rain.”
