June 08, 2010 Construction work begins at Queensbury School The Post Star - Omar Ricardo Aquije
QUEENSBURY -- A $16.5 million renovation project has begun at the Queensbury Union Free School District, but the pace of the effort will pick up once the school year ends.
Over the next 18 months, portions of the district's four buildings will be refurbished, though the bulk of the work will occur at the middle school.
Construction will have a slight impact on summer school classes. Summer classes for middle school students will be moved to the high school, and the intermediate school will shift its summer program to the elementary school, said Douglas Huntley, superintendent of schools.
Other summer programs will continue as usual. The school grounds will continue to be used for the town's recreation programs. The pool at the elementary school will be open, and baseball will continue despite construction, Huntley said.
Work at the middle school involves constructing a small addition to the entrance of the building. Two classrooms will be built and science classrooms and the gymnasium will be renovated.
The middle school's ventilation and heating systems will be renovated. In addition, the parking lots around the building are being redesigned.
Officials expect the whole project to be complete by December. While work will occur during the school year, it's not expected to interrupt classes.
"They (contractors) will be aggressive with construction at the middle school when school opens, but it will be isolated to the front of the building," Huntley said.
Another big part of the project will happen at the transportation building, which will be expanded to house the maintenance department.
Once that work is complete, the building being used now for the maintenance department will be demolished.
Work at the elementary school, intermediate school and high school buildings will involve replacing boilers and improving electrical and heating systems.
In addition, a playground will be built at the intermediate school.
In January 2009, voters approved the project by a more than 2-to-1 margin. The state will reimburse the district all but $2.4 million of the project. The balance will be paid with funds from a reserve for school construction.
The reserve was created when voters approved it in 2005.
