Residents approve building project January 24

"We are thrilled and thank the community for its support," said Superintendent Kevin Baughman. "This vote reflects Niskayuna residents' pride in their students and schools, and the value they place on education."

"This project will allow us to build permanent classrooms, and make our school environments more conducive to learning with heating, safety and technology improvements. It will ensure the viability of our schools today and for future generations of Niskayuna students."

"We also want to thank the many community members, staff, parents and students who contributed to the facilities review process," said Baughman. "Their hard work, ideas and input are what led to today's positive result."

Work will begin immediately with architects on the design and preparation of project materials for submission to the New York State Education Department. The project will be publicly bid beginning in January 2007, and construction will begin in spring 2007. The work will be completed in phases, with some completed in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Updates will be posted on this web site.

Highlights of the work included in the project:
The Elementary Schools:
• Add five classrooms to meet growing enrollment, for special education classes and to replace two displaced rooms (see next bullet)
• Reconfigure two existing classrooms into smaller spaces for parent conferences, testing, and student services/support.
• Replace the inefficient steam heating systems with more efficient hot water systems
• Replace inefficient windows
• Traffic safety improvements
• Increase handicap-accessibility by adding platform lifts on stages, automatic door openers at main entrances
• Replace old carpets with vinyl tile, which is allergy-friendly and easier to maintain

Niskayuna High School:
• Add eight classrooms to address growing enrollment, including one special education and one science room
• Replace the building’s inefficient and ineffective heating system with a high efficiency geothermal system
• Relocate to the center of the school and expand the media center, which cannot accommodate the number of students who wish to research and study
• Relocate and expand the music rooms so they are adjacent to the auditorium
• Reconfigure the traffic circles and pedestrian crossings to increase student safety
• Create a Study Commons in the center of the building where students can study
• Replace the roof

Iroquois Middle School:
• Renovate and update two art rooms and two home & careers rooms
• Replace original windows (which are inefficient and in many cases permanently clouded because of moisture trapped in the windows)
• Replace undersized 6-inch-wide lockers with standard 12-inch lockers (to better accommodate student books and belongings)

Van Antwerp Middle School:
• Replace the heating systems (which are inefficient and provide inconsistent heat around the building) with a more efficient hot water system
• Roof repair
• Rebuild and re-point masonry
• Improve handicap-accessibility by adding a wheelchair lift

District-wide:
• Replace aging telephone systems with one district-wide system (which would be more economical and provide better security by adding telephones in every classroom)
• Increase security and student safety by installing exterior lighting, security cameras and window blinds at all schools (the high school would also receive a swipe card access system for staff entering the building after hours)
• Update classroom computer technology

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