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Exterior Projects Eyed In Westfield

WESTFIELD — Now that winter is past, Westfield Academy and Central School District will be focusing on several exterior improvement projects, board members learned at their recent meeting.

Facilities director Lou Golando outlined plans for the 2017-18 capital outlay project and the EXCEL (Expanding our Children’s Education and Learning) Project, which will include the installation new security cameras.

High school principal Ivana Hite noted that some areas of the building do not have cameras and the ones that are installed “aren’t very good.” Golando added that the current system is from 2008 and all of the existing cameras need to be replaced.

“We also need emergency blue lights to indicate lockdown,” Golando told board members.

Masonry restoration will also be included in the 2017-18 capital outlay project according to Golando.

“For the EXCEL Capital Project, this is Phase 4,” Golando said. Trench drains are deteriorating in the bus garage and this needs to be addressed, he said. Some of the catch basins in the parking lots need to be replaced, and we need to add some, he noted.

The HVAC system has an outdated pneumatic actuator, Golando told the board. “We should look into changing the actuator to an electronic one,” he said.

Other planned improvements include work on the tennis courts and the sidewalk across the front of the building, Golando told board members. A low area in the grass along the sidewalk collects water and causes ice problems, he added.

Golando also said the workers are doing plastering in the hallways and other small jobs, as well. “The concrete work in the garage is kind of a must,” he added. He said that having a concrete contractor on site enables the district to use him for many small repairs.

Board member Deanne Manzella asked if the work on the bathrooms and the flooring in the school was complete. Golando responded that it should be done by April 14.

In other matters, CPSE/CSE Chairperson Amy Webb addressed the board regarding the 2017-2018 budget for special education services. She noted there will be many students with high needs that “we can’t necessarily meet in house,” in the coming year.

Elementary Principal, Mary Rockey commented that special education funds should be clearly shown in the budget. “It’s very important that special education dollars be easy to follow,” she said.

Rockey also explained to the board the inclusion of Hepatitis B shots for faculty members in next year’s budget. New York State has required the Hepatitis B series for elementary school students since 1998-99 and for secondary students since 2000-01. “So almost everyone thirty and under has already received the shots,” she said. Shots administered by the Department of Health are the least expensive, she added.

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