Construction, renovations well underway this summer on school district's facilities improvements project

Students and staff returning to four of Niskayuna Central School District's eight school buildings in September can expect to see significant changes as the first phase of the district’s $94.5 million building project, approved by voters in 2006, began this summer.
Extensive changes at Niskayuna High School
The counseling center and half of the high school’s administrative staff have been relocated to temporary offices in the north cafeteria, which can be accessed from either the pool entrance or the building’s main entrance. The district registrar is now located in a renovated section of a faculty room near the school’s main cafeteria.
Construction crews are busily preparing temporary classrooms and other instructional space and offices in areas that previously housed the high school print shop, technology rooms, the main office and the media center, (pictured right).
In July, C-Hall was partitioned off for asbestos abatement. Once that task is complete, crews will work double shifts, six days a week to demolish the existing wing and begin laying the groundwork for a new two-story classroom addition.
Meanwhile, staff and student workers have begun unpacking books and reference materials and stacking bookshelves in the temporary media center, located in the old wrestling gym.
Due to ongoing construction, school officials have decided to enact new traffic patterns and specific locations for dropping off students to make vehicle and pedestrian traffic safer. For athletic practices and tryouts, beginning Aug. 13 with varsity football and Aug. 20 for other fall sports, student athletes and parents should use the Balltown Road entrance to access the athletic fields and to drop off students.
The following changes in traffic patterns will remain in effect for students, parents and staff throughout the school year:

• All student traffic is to use the Balltown Rd. entrance for arrival and departure. The student parking lot will remain available, however, there will no longer be through traffic allowed from one parking lot to the other.
• Parents dropping off students will use the Balltown Road entrance, turn left at the stop sign and drop off students by the pool entrance. Parents are asked to loop around and leave via Balltown Rd.
• Parents wishing to drop off students for music will use the Balltown Rd. entrance. Those parents will be allowed to turn right at the stop sign and proceed to the music doors. A loop will be provided at the door so that traffic will continue around and exit via Balltown Rd.
• Selected staff may use the Balltown Rd. entrance and park in the upper tennis courts in the visitor parking areas.
• The Nott Street entrance will be limited to school bus and staff parking ONLY. Portions of this lot will be remarked to indicate new traffic flow. The goal is to maximize parking availability, provide for a safe pick up and departure for students and reduce congestion, particularly in the morning. A traffic loop for buses and staff cars will be marked for easy exit via Nott Street.

If you have questions or would like more information, please call Assistant Principal Mark Treanor at Niskayuna High School at 382-2511, ext. 4304.
A map is available for students, staff and parents to help navigate the many changes that have occurred during the past few weeks at the high school. Download a PDF of the floor plan that details the locations of temporary classrooms and administrative offices.

New wings start taking shape at Craig and Glencliff schools
Excavation is underway at Craig and Glencliff elementary schools to make way for new classroom additions. A four-classroom wing will be built at Craig, while five additional classrooms will be added at Glencliff. Flooring and ceiling tiles have been removed in preparation for heating systems to be replaced. As the renovations continue throughout the school year, the ceiling tiles in the main corridors of both buildings will remain down until the new heating systems are in place.

HVAC work started at Van Antwerp
At Van Antwerp Middle School, workers are in the initial stages of replacing the heating and ventilation system, which includes removing ceiling tiles and duct work, and isolating and draining existing systems. Ceiling tiles in the main corridors of VA will remain down until installation of the new heating system is complete. Preparatory work on a new ramp that will improve handicapped accessibility on the second floor is also underway.

(July 2007)

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